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

[ourearth]

Date: 25th of July
Characters: Open!

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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.

Comments

[brofistsforall]

Jacob arrives half to investigate what's going on, half to investigate who announced the...shenanigans. It wasn't a voice he recognized, and at least for his own curiosity, he'd like a better idea of whom else was affected. What common thread units them...?

Either way, that can wait a moment. He's hardly the best at wrangling animals, but he's doing his best, coaxing a donkey to stay still while he approaches. "It's all right, I'm not going to hurt you..."

[scarsolderthanyou]

"Would it be better to leave it one animal per person, or should I try coming from the other end so it can't run away?" asks a tall old man with an American accent, eyeing the donkey from behind sunglasses.

If Jacob's been paying attention to the network, he'll recognize him as the one telling the hysterical messenger to calm the hell down, so he's definitely a fellow number-linked person.

[brofistsforall]

"Maybe if it sees you it'll hesitate?" Jacob ventures, briefly glancing up. The voice is familiar, and- well, he'll worry about that in a minute. Right now he's daring to approach a little closer.

"As long as nobody gets hurt, teamwork might be the better idea..."

[scarsolderthanyou]

"Got it." Sam angles to block the donkey in, triangulating with a nearby bush that hopefully the donkey won't try to blunder through. "I don't suppose there's a rope somewhere we can tie onto the damn thing." It does have a halter on it, since nobody lets even petting zoo large hooved mammals wander around without some form of control, maybe they can pull it along by that.

[brofistsforall]

"If I can just grab-"

Whatever he was trying to grab - likely the bridle - gets cut off as the man gets just a bit too close. The jackass promptly kicks out at him, landing hooves squarely at his slung arm. While - oddly - it doesn't really hurt, it does knock him back on to his arse, eyes widening as a harsh feeling of deja vu overcomes him.

something much bigger, much angrier, much more...genetically engineered?

He doesn't get up.

[scarsolderthanyou]

Sam promptly decides that letting the donkey get away is the lesser of two evils, here, and he hurries over to Jacob's side, dropping creakily to one knee beside him. "Kid? Hey, did that damn thing break something? You okay?"

[brofistsforall]

It takes a moment before Jacob actually responds. Or is able to respond, pulling himself to the present with a shake of his head and a hand at his forehead. "I-"

A beat.

"...did you just call me 'kid'?"

[scarsolderthanyou]

"I'm more than twice your age, I'm allowed," Sam says. "Besides, I don't remember your actual name. But if you're complaining about nicknames, you're probably okay."

[blueskying]

"At least he's got a bridle," Sky observes helpfully, not sure how close he should get. He knows donkeys and horses are strong and flighty, but that's about it. They'd invented tractors by the time he was working on his family's farm.

He's another old white man with an American accent, but short and with an obvious prosthetic. "And I suppose if he's used to kids he should be on the steady side, probably."

[brofistsforall]

"Doesn't mean he can't get spooked," Jacob notes. "Considering what's been going on so far, I'd be surprised if he wasn't something of a danger."

They make quite a pair - one man with an arm kept in a sling close to his chest, the other with a prosthetic right arm. Between the two of them, they're all that's left.

[blueskying]

"Yeah. Horses are scared of plastic bags, so we're probably terrifying monsters." Sky flexes the muscle in his arm that taps his hooks together, though they're at least rubber-covered and don't make a loud obnoxious clack. The donkey swivels an ear at him and tosses its head.

Options.

"Better to go slow, don't corner him... hah, I wish I could say I still remembered how to use a lasso, but I wasn't that kind of farmboy. And I expect he's stronger than me." He turns away a moment, fishes through his pockets with his left hand. He's already used up the cracked corn he grabbed earlier, but - oh there it is.

"If horses like sugar do donkeys like Werther's?"

[brofistsforall]

"Ooga booga," mutters Jacob with a slight chuckle. "If you'd like, you can go ahead and give it a try? I'll have your back- and side, if he tries to go that way." Maybe if he gets his good arm around the head?

Ideally, they'd just lead the thing back, but they have no idea if it's going to be docile.

[blueskying]

"This is such a bad idea," he says, a smile in his voice. "All right, but if he puts up any fight just let him go. Let someone with more hands cover this."

Sky has had more than enough experience with one hand to get the candy open, though the wrapper does crinkle and the donkey's long ears come up. It hasn't been part of a petting zoo for years without learning about sweets. Sky turns sidewise, tries to avoid direct eye contact, and murmurs, "Hey, buddy, it'd be great if we all got along, huh?"

Sky has been known to talk to plants. This isn't really any sillier.

[channingchanningchanning]

Clearly it will be very helpful if a tiny white dog suddenly shoots past him in pursuit of some quite panicked chicken. Right?

[brofistsforall]

Oh no. Nononono, that's a bad thing, actually.

"Sh- here, boy! C'mere!"

Jacob knows enough to not chase them both, at least, but he's certainly moving and trying to get the dog's attention.

[channingchanningchanning]

Chad stops and looks at Jacob at the sudden address.

What's up, young man?