WEEK 6

[bathymetric]

Another week, another three lost - and this time all to one murder case. And that's to say nothing of the execution, or whatever went on with that ouija board that still sits in the library... strange things are afoot in the facility, and some of them not even your captor seems fully equipped to explain.

The other of the two doors in the main living area finally opens after another lost Saturday, and what lies beyond is... strange, to say the least. Looks like there's no shortage of changes, even in the architecture. It certainly seems like you should have gotten something like this before the water park at the very least, don't you think?

Angel's still out and about at night, if you want to be found. And who knows what else you might find if you're out alone? Apparently, you might have a ghost on your hands.



SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY

[ooc: Welcome to Week 6! If you want Angel or to try your hand at the ouija, please make sure to note in your toplevel, same as an investigation! AC is over here, regains are here, and, well...

You've all got a new app on your devices! Use it wisely. ]

Comments

[bolderfell]

He's lucky he didn't startle me. Already got a fire started--wouldn't be too hard to change it to a cooking fire.

[But since it looks like this Julius is one of Zerinda's babies--didn't she mention him before?--he picks up a piece of firewood and tries to fish Julius out with it. Come on, grab the stick, lizard friend. Zerinda shouldn't have to step in the smelly water to fetch your scaly butt.]

[bogwife]

Oh, you wouldn't want to eat him. He's full of venom and tough meat- [She finishes taking off her shoes and approaches him and the pool edge, folding her arms across her chest.] -and nastiness!

[Julius doesn't seem too interested in being rescued until his ticked off mother comes into view. At that point he has the decency to swim toward the firewood and grab into it with his little semi-useful wing arms. Pull him in, bro.]

[bolderfell]

[Therion tugs him gently, steadily along to the side of the pool so he can crawl up and out of the water.]

Venom, huh? Must make for tricky animal care.

[bogwife]

[Julius is on his best behavior for his rescue, climbing out of the water when he's close enough, only to be immediately scooped up in Zerinda's cloak and bundled up like a burrito.]

It was a learning curve to be sure. But I've had him since he was a baby so I was able to train him enough that it's less of an issue than if I'd tamed him after he'd fully grown. [She shifts him into one arm to deliver a boop with her index finger to his snout.] I mainly just have to watch out when he starts drooling.

[bolderfell]

Disgusting.

[It's good-natured smack talk, though. Therion returns to his fire and nods at a place she can sit.]

How old is he now, if you raised him since he was small?

[bogwife]

He's the most disgusting animal I've ever raised and I've had four nugs. [She says, gazing lovingly at the nasty, soaking wet dragon who is currently drooling all over her cloak. She comes over and settles down next to him by the fire.]

Let's see...I found him a couple of years after I moved away from home and I've been gone ten years last month...so he's 8. Still young for a wyvern but they tend to reach their full size by the time they're 5. [ She shifts him in her arms as he starts to struggle. He's getting disciplinary snuggles.]

He's normally about twelve times this size but I think I was right about him not fitting inside here if he was.

[bolderfell]

Twelve times.

[He repeats that, impressed.]

Where do you keep him? How do you keep him? Think something that size would have to eat a whole sheep every day to survive.

[bogwife]

Oh, he does. He's been keeping the bogfisher population in check for years. And sometimes I feed him a chicken as an extra treat. That's how I managed to train him as a mount. He'll do just about anything for chicken.

Wyverns are very territorial so he never wanders too far from the cave and he has his own little bit carved out of the stone for him next to the main entrance so he has his own space. It was a lot of extra work but he loves it. [Like crate training but for massive venomous dragon cousins.]

[bolderfell]

How do you have time for all the things you do? Alchemy, beast training, witch business... I only have one job and it's more than enough to fill my hours.

[bogwife]

I live alone in a cave sandwiched between an abandoned village and a town where they assume I'm going to start performing blood magic and summoning demons at the drop of a hat. [She smiles but there's a tinge of sadness to it.] I've got to fill my days somehow.

Speaking of, did you get the mead I left for you?

[bolderfell]

I did. Trying to savor it as long as I can.

[He fiddles with his scarf for a moment, because words are hard and feelings are worse, but he finally manages:]

Thank you.

[bogwife]

[She breaks out into a wide, bright-eyed grin.]

You're welcome, Therion. I wanted to make sure you got it in case... [She trails off and looks back down at Julius, rubbing her thumb across his brow.] Just in case.

[bolderfell]

...Yeah. [Let's not talk about it. He's already overdrawn his emotional checking account today.] Looks like I owe you something in return. I'll work on it.

[bogwife]

Don't you dare! It was a gift, you don't owe me a thing.

[bolderfell]

Zerinda...

[Mmngh.]

You know I'm a thief. For me, gifts always have strings attached, but a trade is more... it's equal, then. I respect you, you respect me. We both benefit. It's... my way of being friendly. Sort of. All right?

[bogwife]

[She frowns a little, mulling it over for a few seconds before sighing and giving him a half-smile.]

All right. Terms of friendship gift trade accepted.

[bolderfell]

[You know, he'll try a little half-positive expression for her, too.]

Kind of makes it sound like you're buying my friendship. I like that. Maybe I should always demand pay for the gift of my good will.

[bogwife]

[She laughs, throwing her head back a little.]

I can see the posters now. "Buy my friendship! Just 3,000 gold or 1 bottle of mead."

[bolderfell]

Wow. You'd price that rare a commodity so cheaply? I'm hurt.

[bogwife]

It's one time special pricing. Any other time I'd imagine it's closer to 5,000 gold and an entire bar.