Run, run, follow me [Open Mingle]

[saveournpcs]

Date: Saturday, 4.1.2020
Characters: OPEN

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I.

It's midday when trouble seems to brew underfoot. Literally underfoot, in cases - wherever the Numbered are, they'll suddenly find dormice approaching them, running around their feet, in some cases up their legs, aiming to get their attention, and then running off - coming back again, running off once more in the same direction.

Trying to get the Numbered to FOLLOW.


II.

If Numbered decide to follow the mice, they'll be lead through the streets, fields, or whatever there is (in some cases, this might mean that the mice are trying to lead them through the military area aroudn the air base). Perhaps they'll run into other Numbered on the way - all mice seem to be leading those that they lead into the exact same direction.


III.

The direction of, it turns out, the tunnels under the cliffs. The mice will easily slip through the grates that bar the entries - the grates were made to keep humans out and let a tiny mice through easily. The Numbered, however... well, the grates were installed solid and sturdy to keep humans out. The mice will vanish in the tunnels and not come back.

Comments

[saveournpcs]

There's a lot of squeaking, and some mice nod while others shake their heads.

It's complicated?

They discuss this among one another, and eventually all of them nod.

[vernal_miss]

The initial disagreement leaves the girl confused, but she is patient until they lean one particular way. It simply gives her more time to recover from her exertion.

“Maybe help isn’t the right word... I don’t suppose you can give me a hint as to what you want us to do?” She is aware that other Numbered were summoned to the tunnels.

[saveournpcs]

They lapse into silence, trying to think about this.

And then one of them squeaks, and they all.... huddle together. Forming what looks like a long loaf that's pointy at the front. Three of the mice climb up into the middle of the loaf and build a little mouse-pyramid on top of the pointy loaf, running parallel to the length of the loaf.

[vernal_miss]

Nel watches in amazement as they work together to build the shape for the clue. They really do cooperate very well.

Unfortunately, the child is puzzled by the shape, “I don’t think I understand...that looks like a boat to me.” As a second thought she adds a question, “It doesn’t have to do with water, does it?” The only use for water a mouse might have she would know is needing to drink.

[saveournpcs]

The shape dissolves, and the mice turn back towards her. The question wasn't posed in a confusing way, so some shake their heads and some nod - for a moment, until they realize, and then one squeaks sternly at Nel. Rephrasing, please.

[vernal_miss]

“Sorry,” she starts, then pauses to organize her words into a simpler question, “Would the shape you made be out in the water?” One thing at a time for these yes and no questions.

[saveournpcs]

They nod. Yes, it would be.

[vernal_miss]

Murmuring softly she thinks on the shape with the pyramid triangle the clearest detail, “But if it’s not a boat then...” The very next thing to pop into her head is something she has seen entirely too often as of late.

“The sharks?”

[saveournpcs]

They nod pointedly. And then squeak and spread out on the ground to form a vaguely humanoid shape.

[vernal_miss]

She does not yet see any point of connection beyond being out of the ordinary in size, but she does not have time to ask before they have another clue for her.

“A person?” A pause, then a second question, “Is it a boy?”

[saveournpcs]

A pause, and then a nod. Like, 95% yes. They're just not sure if that's the perfect word to describe him.

[vernal_miss]

Nel does try her best to be mindful of pronouns, but playing Guess Who does not promote such a conversation readily.

“Is he an adult then?” She will wait for an answer before asking a follow up, “Is he mixed up in all the Numbers business?” That would limit potential people significantly if so.

[saveournpcs]

More nodding. She's definitely getting there.

[vernal_miss]

It does not make much sense that Russell would be it since the mice brought him here to the tunnels. She might as well assume the same for Walter, and her grandfather. Benjiro is not quite an adult. So that leaves...

“Mr. Helpful?” She will wait for an answer, and if they deny his name, “Mr. Evil?” He seemed okay when they talked, but that’s what the others say he calls himself.

[saveournpcs]

They shake their head at Mr Helpful, but not at Mr Evil's name.

[vernal_miss]

That’s not good.

“...did he do something to your friend down there?”

[saveournpcs]

They shake their heads, and then start to squeak at her with some urgency in their tones.

[vernal_miss]

That’s quite a relief to know, but the urgency in the way they squeak prompts her to quickly ask another question.

“Does he need to do something then?”

[saveournpcs]

There's squeaking. Lots of squeaking. That's NOT it. Their tones become ever more urgent.

[vernal_miss]

“Sorry, was it someone else? There was that third one... “ she says as she starts to get flustered by all that squeaking. They hadn’t nodded to Mr. Evil after all.

[saveournpcs]

They shake their heads. No, no, this is about Mr Evil.

[vernal_miss]

“Okay, so it was Mr. Evil...” she starts only to trail off as she tries to think of what else she might ask.

“Is it something about a shark and Mr. Evil?” There are so many sharks about now in places they should not be, but the shark seemed important.

[saveournpcs]

The mice squeak, and then turn towards each other, conferring about how to continue...

And then one of them squeaks and rushes off. The others stay behind and look after it.

[vernal_miss]

This is difficult.

The girl watches as they communicate together, and one scurries off from out of the range of her glow stick. When the other mice remain poised to watch for the mouse that left, she at least understands she needs to wait for that one to return.

Well...in the meantime, she may as well get a kip. Careful not to get too close to any mice so as not to startle them, she lies down on the tunnel floor and curls up to shut her eyes.

[spaghettimonster]

After the mysterious giant mouse thing, Russell expects to be led to more cave art, or bodies left from the war, or one of the sinkholes, or maybe even a wizened old man offering him a sword. Something dramatic and storytale-ish.

He mutters complaints and ideas to himself, roughly keeping the flashlight on the mouse so he doesn't lose it, but mostly he looks back and forth at the walls for signs of something of the sort.

When he's led instead to a person, and a familiar one at that, he's shocked enough to stop complaining and crouch down next to her. "Hey, what are... Nel? Are you hurt?"