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

Entry tags:

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"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.

The peacock, which had been struggling, wasn't making nearly as much noise as the peahen was now.

"Little help?!" Walter manages to squawk, what with trying to get his hands around the body of the animal currently on his head, and trying not to lose any hair or skin in the meanwhile.

Sadie's still cackling away, vision blurring from the tears that she can't wipe away.

"Holy shit Walter!" Those are full on cackles now, "My hands are full, I can't do anything!"

"Well- maybe if you bring him closer-"

More frenzied hand-scrambling later, and Walter's coaxed the bird into not holding his hair in a deathgrip. She is, however, still being terribly loud. And his hands may be the worse for wear.

"They'll both be calmer?"

"Okie dokie."

She moves closer and low and behold the peahen calms down and ceases its assault on Walter's person.

Sadie winces when she spots his hands, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth. "Ouch, sorry I didn't help sooner Walter. Do your hands hurt a lot?"

Which is much appreciated, if the set of Walter's shoulders is anything to go by.

"I'll be fine," he says, wincing again.

"I can wait until we drop these two off before getting patched up, at any rate."

Since he's not dripping blood all over the ground...

Sadie nods still eyeing his hands. "If you're sure..."

She makes sure to walk close to him as they make their way back to the main grounds and someone who would know where to put the birds.

"So how long did it take you to figure out the speed thing?"

Walter took in a breath, held it, then exhaled.

"Took me the most of twenty-four hours after the Lights showed up before I could put together a full picture. Actually practicing the - enhancement - took longer. Being able to run or bike without having an accident was paramount."

And disentangling his own speed-of-thought increase from any possible anxiety attack, but he doesn't want to bring that up just yet.

The peahen coos, nibbling on his hair once more before turning to look at her partner.

Sadie grins at the peahen, "Aww, I think she likes you...Or she's trying to give you a haircut, one or the other."

She holds the peacock up slightly so that the bird was closer to the peahen and watches as the birds start fussing at each other as they walk. "That must have been disorientating," Her change certainly was and it certainly wasn't something as dramatic as super speed. "Did you crash into a lot of stuff whilst you practised?"

Sadie breathes a sigh of relief as they make it out of the grove and she catches sight of some of the petting zookeepers. The bird wasn't exactly light. "Almost done!"

"Not the worst shape my hair's been in," Walter sarks, "And she probably just wants to be put down."

He makes a wry smile.

"Oh, it was. And yes- I was torn between practicing outside, where I'd be seen, or indoors."

Which alternatively meant either accidentally hitting Russell, or being in the gym, which was its own category of problems in potentia. Fortunately, he has a larger spread of things he could test than just running speed when it comes to staying inside.

In lieu of waving, which could be dangerous on at least two counts, Walter tries gesturing for help entirely with his fingers. It mostly just makes him look silly.

"I think even the peahen could do a better job styling hair than my worse haircut. My brother James decided to experiment with his first pair of clippers...on me. Waxed his eyebrow off in revenge though so we looked like wankers together."

She nods, "Potentially be seen or property damage? Not a great choice either way."

The staff see them with the peacocks and meet them halfway across the lawn, thanking them for their help and taking the birds off of their hands, although Sadie giggles when the peahen has to be unattached from Walter's hair.

"Well, that was fun..." Sadie looks about, checking to see how close anyone is to them. "So...The thing that happened to me because of the Aurora..."

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*

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Excuse me whilst I go die of laughter

I Google'd it, and it's totally valid, too! XD

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

looks longingly at Just Eat

Re: looks longingly at Just Eat