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

[vernal_miss]

Between the adorable cheer from one of the mice and the pleasure that comes with understanding on her first attempt, Nel initially beams at the confirmation. In the seconds that follow, her expression falls as the reality of that statement sinks in with her eyes widening. A shark that big would be a threat to all the boats in the bay alongside the big mouse down here.

“_Oh...” follows quietly. One hand is run back into her hair as she tries to wrap her mind around the request to stop such a force of nature. Rather than ponder it alone, she writes to the Network again.

Pen dropped on the page, she follows Russell’s example and pries open the dried fruit. She dumps half the package into her hand and then offers her hand to the mice, “Here. You’re working hard. And after we are done down here, I can try to grow some fresh berries for you.” Her magic has recovered somewhat from when she disconnected from the world, so she expects she can manage at least that much.

[saveournpcs]

The mice are surprised by the offering, but after a moment of hesitation one tipples forward to accepts a berry, and when the others see that that venture went over without a problem, they swarm Nel's hand to all get a berry of their own.

[spaghettimonster]

The motion of the mice gets Russell's attention, and he looks up from reading through the Network conversation to see them swarm Nel's hand.

"Oh, good idea. We might not like the news," an understatement he's sure they can all recognize, "but we appreciate the warning. The least we can do is share some fruit."

[vernal_miss]

Her hand remains patiently still against the floor of the tunnel as the first then the rest of the mice take a piece. It tickles with so many tiny paws, but she holds back any giggles with a tight smile. Nel makes very certain all of the mice with them got a share, and pours a little more out as needed.

Looking to Russell when he speaks, she smiles in a more relaxed manner and nods in agreement. Very well said.

Once the mice are set, she picks bits from the bag to eat herself. Slowly her brow knits together with worry. She does not know that she can help in facing a giant shark, especially while her magic is blunted. That worry leads her to ask Russell, “...do you think we can stop a shark that big?”

[spaghettimonster]

"...I suppose it depends what we're stopping it from," he eventually says, with a grimace back the way he came. "Swimming out at sea, nothing much for it. I'm not recreating any shark horror films. But if it tries coming inland..."

Really, he has to shrug at that one, too. They have a smattering of strange powers between them all, but hardly the stuff of fighting against giant monsters. Even tiny sharks proved to be problems. But between wanting to reassure her, and wanting to reassure himself, he keeps talking through his thoughts.

"...Though. Between tiny sharks and a giant shark... Maybe Evil has some sort of size-changing ray. If we got ahold of something like that," he says, gesturing with a hand like it's a ray gun, "zap. No more giant shark threat."

[vernal_miss]

Occupying herself with another dried berry after posing her question, Nel listens as he frames the matter in a new way for her. It lessens her worry when he helps her understand the goal can be smaller than the giant shark.

The girl fails to grasp the concept of what happens in movies chasing after a shark, but the idea of the ray altering the size of the sharks is readily understood thanks to cartoons. A small smile is revived watching his gesture, and she replies, “If we shrunk it to the size of a sea monkey, maybe Mum would let Thom keep it.” He had asked for one before.

“It’s too bad we can’t make it sleep like the giant dormouse,” she comments. They will have time to brainstorm together for a real solution, and between the adults, a safe plan should be found.

[spaghettimonster]

Russell grins appreciatively at the thought of this theoretical big danger being turned into a child's pet, content in a comfortably-sized aquarium for the rest of its days. But he has to shrug at the second point.

"It's a bit tricky, isn't it? I think sharks need to swim, even in their sleep."

Not that he knows the type of shark, but he remembers hearing something about some possibly suffocating if they don't keep in motion. Unlike the giant dormouse, which can apparently sleep underground in a cave so long that it's far too large to ever get out again, except by - he assumes - causing more earthquakes and sink holes.

[vernal_miss]

This matter Nel has a little more knowledge of thanks to watching so many animal shows, “Depends on the kind of shark? I think some small ones like nurse sharks can stay still, but bigger ones definitely have to swim.” Hence such hurry when tagging one at the side of the boat. She remembers there is something the nurse shark has that a great white does not that keeps water moving over the gills.

“Well, whatever is decided, it’ll work out,” she says with a newly bolstered confidence. It may not be easy by any means, but she is convinced the Numbered can manage something to help the mice.

this looks like a good wrap point to me

[spaghettimonster]

Russell nods along slowly, not entirely convinced of it himself, but not pressed enough with the stress of it all to ramble his more agitated thoughts at her. Instead, he agrees with a soft laugh. "Sounds like making it small wouldn't hurt, and might help. And... Well. There's a lot we can all do."

It's funny, just saying it aloud makes it sound and feel more true to him. But he'll keep checking on the various updates the others provide, and see what else they can learn in this expedition.