Simple Hearts Will Be Prized Again

[cryptoherpetology]

WHO: Alex Price, Karen Page, Kat, YOU (OTA)
WHERE: Inn Records, Kat's House, Schoolhouse, Somewhere Outdoors
WHEN: Dec 1-15th
OPEN TO: Karen, Kat, OTA
WARNINGS: Mention of Dead Animals (Mice)

---

Lions, Tigers and Bears Sound Quaint (For Karen Page)

Alex has been spending more and more time in the inn since discovering the records, especially since Tony's mining expedition and the snake hunt. Mostly, he's been adding to what notes he can- especially for the ones he's been studying up close- mostly the fever snakes, since he's been handling those so much lately, but there have been pages on the snake bats and peacock cats added as well, since he's had so much experience with them up-close of late.

It's the ice mice that have him here today, with some anatomical sketches (including some that are clearly drawn from references of dissections) and as many of the field notes he's taken that he thinks will be useful. He isn't expecting to find someone else when he comes in, but smiles pleasantly when he spots a familiar face.

"I was starting to think this place was being haunted by the ghost of a librarian," he remarks to the woman he'd met in the corn. "It's Karen, right?"

King of (Birdlike) Cats for Kat

The peacock cats tracks aren't exactly like a domestic cat's, but they're similar enough that Alex can, after a couple of hours in the woods, he's able to locate a clowder (or would it be a flock?) of them. Most of the adults want nothing to do with him, and the juveniles are jumpy- except one, which has him confused at first, until he notices the way it's favoring three out of four legs.

When he arrives at Kat's door, the peakitten's left forpaw has been bandaged. Having just come from the wild, it's a good deal less plump than the litter he'd been fostering. Despite the frostbite, which he thinks might be the result of a failed attempt at preying on an ice mouse, and maybe some slight malnutrition, there are no other problems he can identify with the cat.

Boudica had just about thrown a fit with an unfamiliar cat in the house for as long as it had taken to bandage the poor thing up (he'd sacrificed one of his pillowcases for the cloth), so it'd been clear he couldn't keep it. Kat was the first person to come to mind- her notes on the animals here were enough to convince him that she wouldn't have any issue taking care of it, and she'd mentioned being interested in one.

Of Ice Mice and Men OTA

The mice in the schoolhouse are getting bold, if you ask Alex. Not quite as bold as he's used to mice being, given the... unique nature of the Aeslin mice that lived with his family. Thinking of their songs, their little shouts of "HAIL!" and the countless hours of theosophical debate almost makes him feel bad about the small knife he sends flinging through the air at the one he sees skittering across the plank wood floors, skewering it in place.

They're keeping his knife-throwing skills sharp, at least. Pun not intended.

Where There's Smoke... OTA

Like most people in the village, Alex is the type of person who runs towards screaming, so when he hears a surprised shout and the FWOOMF sound of something spontaneously combusting, he does just that. The fire isn't terribly large- enough that between the stomping of heavy hiking boots and armfuls of snow, he's able to smother the flame before it does too much damage.

"Are you alright?" he asks, checking his boots for signs of the treads melting, and finding them mostly intact. "No burns or anything?" It was hard to tell if the shout had been in pain, panic or both.

Comments

Where There's Smoke...

[plate_builder]

Now, in Reeve's defense, he had been shocked by a mouse that had turned a bush into the most beautiful ice covered vision. However the fact that the other grass in the thing's trail had also frozen, and the mouse had been still running, more or less in Reeve's direction, meant that he had been shocked. Shocked and driven to a more or less instinctive reaction.

Back home he always had a heavy bangle full of materia when he needed to protect himself, and one of the things in it had been a mastered fire materia. In a situation like this he would have thrown a fire spell at the creature. Even now he gestured as if he could do the spell, even remembering that it's gone.

So the fire actually following and setting some of the grass around the frozen bush and grass on fire was definitely too much. Reeve shouted in surprise and within moments there was someone there with snow and stomping feet to put it out. And Reeve was left staring.

"Uh... Right. Yes, I am more or less fine. Was not expecting that to happen."

[cryptoherpetology]

"I can't blame you for not expecting spontaneous combustion," Alex assures him. "It's alright- people started doing the Firestarter thing around the same time those mice started showing up." Which he has some theories about, but actually capturing the mice to see if they're carrying some sort of bacteria or fungus that causes pyrokinetic powers hasn't been easy.

Especially now that Boudica is really honing her hunting instincts. He's never seen a cat go right for the kill so fast- no toying with her prey, just CHOMP, almost like she knows something's up with them.

"I don't think we've met, by the way. I'm Alex."

[plate_builder]

"Actually, it was more the fact that the spontaneous combustion happened when I know I am no longer equipped to cause such that was surprising," Reeve commented, still looking rather thoughtfully at the charred grass and the little bits of ice still clinging to the bush. How intriguing.

But of course that was hardly the thing to focus on here. He could test out this strange occurrence at a later time, perhaps a more secure area, such as by the river that he had seen in one of his walks. So instead he turned his full attention to the man and offered his hand out. Because it was rude not to greet another person without a hand shake.

"We have not. I am a recent arrival as it were. My name is Reeve, and it is a pleasure to meet you, Alex. Thank you for your assistance. Given your description of the situation I suppose it would have been unlikely that I suddenly found myself splashing water on the flames with a thought."

[cryptoherpetology]

After Reeve's explanation, Alex makes what he considers to be an educated guess. "Elemental magic? A housemate of mine is a magic-user when he's back home- I imagine that being without that would take some adjustment." He looks to the smoking pile of ash and ember that they just put out. "As would getting just part of what you're used to back, I guess."

[plate_builder]

"Having it back without the proper equipment is the more jarring experience, I assure you," Reeve answered, finally turning his back on the burned area to get himself focused. "Would it be correct to assume that such is not a common occurrence here?"

If it was, Reeve was going to have to be prepared for the strangeness that could happen. Being a materia expert meant handling magic wasn't too shocking for him, it was more that he would have to be prepared for it to happen without being necessarily expected.

Ice Mice

[thecatinahat]

Cougar's been following and tracking the mice, keeping his ear to the ground (literally, in some cases) and he honestly appreciates the challenge. The ones he's been going after are in the schoolhouse and he creeps in silently in time to see a knife skewering a mouse, giving the man an amused, respectful look.

"Now, you burn it?" he coaxes, seeing as he hasn't been taking any chances with the ones he's been going after (his own knives tucked in his belt), but also because he's been very much enjoying his fire abilities.

[cryptoherpetology]

"If it's dead, it's not going anywhere. As long it doesn't touch anything living, I don't see the harm in having a closer look at these things. Assuming it's even capable of the freezing effect after it's dead. I just need something to put it in. I wonder if anyone's got a jar they're not using," he says, and looks down at the dead mouse and trying not to think too much about the Aeslin.

That way lies only guilt and homesickness.

[thecatinahat]

Cougar eyes him warily, because he's seeing some similarities to Jake already, even if he's not about to say that out loud. Still, that want to keep it is a strange thing. "What if it keeps freezing everything, from the jar outside?"

It's a lot of words for him, and they sound rough, but Cougar needs him to answer so that he's thought it through, because if not, then there's going to be a lot of trouble when ice keeps creeping out.

He needs to know 'how can you be so sure it's inert'?

[cryptoherpetology]

"I haven't seen them freeze anything inorganic. Plants, other animals- anything living. If I can find a way to catch a few of them alive, I might be able to tell you more. But dissection should hopefully tell me something too.

He picks up his knife, with the mouse still skewered on it, careful not to touch the mouse itself, just in case. "We go outside, touch the mouse against the nearest tree and see what happens. Either we get some flash-frozen foliage, or nothing happens."

In terms of scientific methods, it's a little more advanced than "poke it with a stick and see what happens," but not by much. But an experiment is no less valuable for being simple.

[thecatinahat]

Cougar still doesn't trust them so much, instead enjoying putting them on little fiery pikes with his fingers, but his suspicion can hold to learn about them. After all, if they come back, he's going to want to know about them.

"And if it freezes, we burn it," he adds, trying not to sound too hopeful to get to use his newfound powers, but those are a science that he finds thrilling all on its own, too. "Let's go."

Of Mice and Men

[spoileralert]

Steph is in the library looking for more crafting books after Anne’s get-together, but she can certainly appreciate a well thrown knife. She bends to pull it out of the little mouse and, after taking a moment to look around for somewhere to wipe it, ends up using another part of the mouse.

“Nice aim. But how many can you throw before you have to stop what you’re doing and pick them up?”

She walks over and offers him the knife handle-first.

[cryptoherpetology]

"Enough to get far enough from a stampede of mice to be safe. And I do have experience with that, believe it or not." Even if the ones he's used to are normally wearing scraps of fabric and jewelry fashioned from odds and ends around the house, he's gotten pretty adept at not stepping around dozens of them.

[spoileralert]

She raises an eyebrow.

"Mice, or fending off stampedes with knives?" That doesn't sound like a good way to live, for all she has her own knives for fending off mice. It was much easier with the peacat around to scare them away.

Expecting him to be paying attention to what's behind her, she doesn't notice the mouse about to race between her feet.

[cryptoherpetology]

"Both, actually," Alex admits. "Though I'm used to the mice trying to engage me in theological debate, not encasing things in ice." Though if the Aeslin had developed Elsa-powers, they might not have been near-extinct beyond the colony that lived with and worshiped his family.

He opens his mouth to say something else, but jumps back when he sees motion on the floor, reaching for Steph's arm to pull her away. "Shit, watch out-"

[spoileralert]

She sees him jump and reaches for one of the knives in her pockets, but just as she's turning to find the damned thing it skitters across her shoe with a squeak of protest at the ruckus.

"Shit-" she agrees, turning white even as the ice starts to race up her body.

Inside she's screaming. She can't die like this, so suddenly, without even a chance to fight back. Besides that the cold came on so quickly that it's excruciating. She knows she'll be numb soon, but she doesn't want that any more than she wants frostbite.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck!" She stabs at the ice with the knife she just barely managed to clear before her hips were covered. It doesn't do a great deal of good. She's almost hyperventilating when the ice reaches her chest and creeps down her arms and up her neck.

Her hands do become oddly warm, though, and the knife she's holding with them. She's angry, she realizes. This isn't fair and she's pissed the hell off. A quiet sound like ice sizzling on a skillet can be heard as she takes one last deep breath and her head is fully enveloped.

King of Bird-Like Cats

[mediumhoodie]

Kat appeared at her front door wearing a simple dark green dress and little else. Her boots had been kicked to the side of the door and all other adornments had been left on her nightstand. There was a curious expression on her face before her dark green eyes dropped to the kitten in Alex's arm.

"Oh. Please come in." The house was warm though Kat only had enough wood to heat two of the rooms. The couch had been turned into a bed and all the other doors were closed to keep the heat centralized between the family room and kitchen.

"Is everything alright?"

Kat knew that Alex was going to continue looking for animals and help them but she didn't want to guess as to why he was here. Guessing never worked well for her in the past.

[cryptoherpetology]

"Boudica's already getting pretty territorial. And you did say you'd be interested in one of these," he says, holding up the feathered kitten. He's got a pair of gloves on so he won't drug himself in the process of rehoming. "She has a bandage that'll need to come off soon, but shouldn't need anything after that. She's in better shape than Boudica's litter were, actually, aside from the frostbite."

[mediumhoodie]

Kat reached for the kitten, a soft smile pulling across her lips as she cradled the kitten in her arms. "Of course, I'm happy to take care of her." Her fingers lightly brush over the kitten's head as she settles it comfortably in her arms.

"I'll make sure to take it off and keep an eye on it for a few days." She'll also make sure that the kitten didn't hurt itself in the process of healing.

A pause.

"Would you like to come in for some tea?"

[cryptoherpetology]

"She's been pretty good at not trying to pull the bandage off- I was worried I'd have to improvise a cone, but treatments with spring water seem to encourage healing. Both in her and, well" he rolls his sleeve up, showing off the now-healing scratches that come with caring for a litter of kittens for a couple weeks, healing faster thanks to being in frequent contact with the hot springs water. "Tea sounds great. I can give you a hand if you want?"

[mediumhoodie]

Kat's fingers brush affectionately just under the cat's chin. It purrs softly and settles into her arms. It doesn't look like its unhappy to be there anymore though it's bright eyes continue to flick around the room. "I'll keep a close eye on her." She assured him in a sweet voice.

"I'd like that." If helped then she should be able to keep petting the kitten in her arms. "The water is ready. We just need to get the tea and pour it into the cups." She was slowly running out of tea but it was a small comfort as winter persisted.

"Do you run into a lot of animals? I was thinking of taking a small trip into the woods. I thought if I found something I could bring it to you." Though with the new kitten, her trip will be pushed back until she's comfortable leaving it in another's care for a few days.

Oh my

[digging]

Karen glances up, startled from her note-taking, and then settles into a smile when she sees it's Alex. He of the randomly grabbing venomous-but-useful animals.

"Hey, everybody's got to have an occupation, right?" she answers with a faint laugh, glances down to her list, then back up again. "I was good at research back home, and it's hard to get answers when everything's a mess. So here we are." Not that any answers she's been after have been particularly forthcoming, but the reference is good to have for everyone.

[cryptoherpetology]

"I've got some notes, if you want to help me find where to put them? Mostly I've been writing about the mice- there doesn't seem to be a shortage of those. But I've got some more stuff on the snakebat if you're still interested." He holds up the papers in his hands. Well. Mostly it's papers- but there's the odd bit of makeshift stationary in there too. Napkins from the buffet and whatever else he could bargain or and get legible writing onto. At least his handwriting's neat.

[digging]

"I am," Karen is quick to reply, eyebrows arching. "I have a friend here who's blind, and if the side effects aren't too bad and the venom isn't too hard to come by, I was thinking it might be a really big help to him adjusting to being here."

She motions to the adjacent seat. "And yeah, whatever you've got, I'll figure out where it goes. Transfer it if I need to," she adds with a faint smile and a pointed look to the napkins.

[cryptoherpetology]

"That's-" Alex stops to consider. "Assuming we can figure out a way to dose the venom in a way that won't risk infection, that's a really good idea. And not unprecedented, there have been people who learn to echo-locate on their own." There's even a big educational sign in the area of the zoo where they keep the bats, which isn't that far from the reptile house that talks about such people.

"I could start seeing if I can breed them, if I can catch a few more. The venom's effects only last a day, so we'll need more than one to build up a good venom store. Breeding them in captivity will mean less risk of disease." And he gets to study cool snake-like bats up close. Win-win.

He starts pulling out the notes he has on the batsnakes, and seperating them out from the notes on peacock cats and crocodile dogs. The notes read a lot like an entry from his family field guides, except that everything he's encountering is new and totally unheard of, not just rare and/or "imaginary," and he's only had a couple months to observe anything.

[digging]

"It's too bad you can't use the greenhouse," Karen says as she watches him lay out the papers. "I mean, obviously I know nothing about reptiles, but I'd think it would be ideal for something you were trying to breed in captivity that flew." Lots of space, lots of sunshine. Unfortunately, also lots of Mark and Alec with exposed necks.

"You seem to be settling right in," she adds with a glance back up from the paper.