sixthiterationlogs | How much is that puppy in the window ...

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How much is that puppy in the window ...

WHO: Anne
WHERE: A hike out to the river
WHEN: Today
OPEN TO: Closed to Seifer
WARNINGS: N/A, will update as needded

Anne had done her research, talked to the locals, poured over some maps, and had sought out a guide for the current adventure. Hopefully, it wouldn't entail too much strife or danger, as she hadn't procured a weapon yet; a simple hike out to the river and back with hopefully a crocodile dog in tow.

She hoped this would work. She wanted to do what she could for Eddie and Venom, but at the same time she recognized that just her presence here was not helping one bit. Especially not compounded with being thrust into a survival situation and having your live-in companion essentially neutered of its full strength. Venom couldn't be that source of emotional salve, and neither could Anne.

"Thanks for agreeing to accompany me." She looks over at Seifer as they walk along. She was expecting a rush of in depth or engaging conversation, but she wanted to impart gratitude where it was due. I don't think it would have been smart to go off on my own, but this is something I need to get done, sooner rather than later."

And, she wasn't sure just how much these things leaned towards crocodile, and how much they leaned towards dog.

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While calling Seifer a guide might be going a bit far, he wasn't especially familiar with the terrain himself just yet still fairly recently arrived. But he had been going out on decently long jogs and was fairly confident in his ability to recognize key landmarks in getting them back home.

As for monsters? He didn't have a proper weapon yet, so he'd brought along a wood chopping axe just in case. Should they run into danger it would suffice reasonably well in an emergency situation, he was pretty good at improvising. Also, potentially, removing debris in their path. Never knew what they might run into out here and it was always better to be prepared.

For the most part Seifer appeared content with the quiet as they walked, though he did incline his head slightly at her gratitude. "Hm? Yeah, of course. Shouldn't be going out on expeditions like this alone right?" It was potentially hostile territory even if the area around the village seemed very safe. He almost seemed a little awkward in accepting the gratitude, like it was unexpected or he had no real idea how to deal with it. It was just good practice to take someone with you in his world where monsters were commonplace threats.

It helped that a large part of his motivation was curiosity. A good excuse to learn more of the territory and perhaps a little bit about the local fauna. He didn't know what a crocdog was, but he was eager to see for himself.

"I've done some camping in my time, but generally I've lived in highly-metropolitan areas. Not a lot of natural predators, at least not the wild-animal sort."

She's fairly decent at navigating the concrete jungle, but an actual wooded jungle she recognizes is something else entirely. She knows her strengths, knows that right now - there's not a lot of she can offer. She'd have to talk to Eddie and Tony about getting a weapon, maybe a long-knife or something practical like that.

"My weapon of choice in San Francisco was mace."

She lets Seifer take the lead, keeping up decently and doing her part to listen and cast an eye at their surroundings. She may not be armed, but that didn't mean she'd be useless.

"Wildlife survival exercises were pretty standard training for me. That, and the world I'm from is just crawling with monsters that all wanna make you their snack." All he had were natural predators. Frankly it was a surprise human civilization had advanced as far as it had considering the hostility of his world.

Fortunately she had met someone well-versed in how to find his way around out in the wild. And how to deal with things that likely want to eat you. He'd call it lucky, but honestly Seifer had just been waiting for an opportunity to come along that would give him an excuse to get out and feel a little useful. Playing guide and guardian was a good way to not go stir crazy. Her comment earned a quiet chuckle. "Pepper spray mace? Not much good against monster threats. Just piss 'em off."

Extra eyes in unfamiliar territory was always valuable. Seifer was himself alert as they walked, watching and listening for anything that might indicate they were being stalked or followed. "So, what's this crocdog thing we're lookin' for anyway?"

"From my understand they are part crocodiles, part dogs that live near the river, and make particularly loyal companions. It's for a ... friend of mine, who could use a little support."

Friend. Yes, let's go with that. The whole village doesn't need to know they were almost married.

Still, it continues to sting.

"I admit I've never plucked a pet out of the wild, before. I brought some rope, and bread. I was going to bring some meat but I didn't have anything convenient to store it in." Ah such a little inconvenience as a lack of plastic sandwich bags.

"Dunno what a crocodile is but I do know what a dog is," So, he had half the picture. He made a thoughtful hum and nodded. It made sense to him. Rinoa had the same in her dog a long time ago, and now in her peacat. Emotional support without having to worry about them talking back he supposed. Seifer had never had a pet he didn't really know what it was like. He had noticed the somewhat awkward pause in the way she worded that he refrained from pressing any further.

Not his business, if she wanted to talk more about it she could. Seifer understood what it was to have secrets and complicated relationships with the people around you. Sometimes better just to leave that stuff buried.

"Huh, that's right, we don't really have plastic do we?" No plastic bags, no resealable containers. Well that was going to be a hassle. "Do you know what they eat? If it's part dog meat would probably be a good idea. Guess we'll have to hope the bread angle buys it." Today they would learn if crocdogs ate bread.

Worst case scenario maybe we can catch a fish or two." It is something that crossed her mind. She wanted to come prepared, but she was no Steve Irwin; this was definitely way out of her comfort zone.

"No crocodiles? They're certainly a trip." She thinks for a moment, how do you describe something that's so well-known to your own world. She didn't even know if introducing dinosaurs into the conversation would help or hinder understanding.

"On their own, they're terrifying, but considering what I've heard about the crocdogs here, I think they're more towards dogs than crocs. Crocodiles are ... very large and dangerous water lizards. They're known for snatching prey much larger than them."

She glances over at Seifer, "This probably isn't helping the cause, is it?"

"Hope you're better at that than I am." Seifer was terrible at fishing. No patience for it, couldn't figure out for the life of him what he was supposed to be waiting for staring at the bobber. And nets? Forget it. Immediately tangled.

Dinosaurs would help, though she had no way of knowing that. Granted they were less a prehistoric creature re-imagined out of their fossilized remains and more walking around outside their school. Or, at least one variety was. Not to worry, big lizard with a bigger appetite he could definitely grasp.

"Ah, alright, I think I can guess well enough what you're talkin' about." His own world didn't exactly have anything closely resembling that that he could think of, didn't mean one didn't exist.

Her glance is met with a smirk and a casual shrug. "Take more than big teeth and scales to scare me off. I'm used to those." Honestly he was more intimidated by the mice that could freeze him solid by scurrying over his foot. That was a much harder to spot threat.

"I'm sure we can figure something out." She's been camping before, she's been industrious and adaptable. That'll be a bridge they'll have to cross when they come to it, though; they still need to find the things first.

"Okay, so you've got something similar; that's good to hear. It's fascinating how different our worlds all are, and yet how much overlaps." Hers at least had theories about alternate and parallel universes, so finding herself in one isn't an exceptional leap of logic.

"Was there anything like this in your world? The idea of other universes, or realities?"

They'll figure something out. Catch a crayfish or something perhaps? Either way that was indeed a bridge they'd cross when they got there. They'd have to find the dogs first, maybe they'd get lucky and they'd be fairly easy to tame from that point.

"Not exactly but I'm familiar with giant lizards that want to eat you," He nodded. His world was teeming with such things, walk outside an inhabited area and you ran the risk of being overrun almost immediately.

"Other worlds? Not that I'd heard of. 'Course I grew up in a pretty closed-off environment. Not a lot of influence from the outside world. So if people were tossing theories around like that I wouldn't really know about it. Guess between space-time altering magic and moon monsters, other worlds aren't that far-fetched."

"I'm sure not everyone in my world was aware of the specific theories; I happened to live in metropolitan areas where that sort of information was readily available. Even then I didn't quite know to specifics of it, and it was still all theories. I doubt anyone from my world would be able to find us in the first place."

Walking along, pushing a branch out of the way, she hoped this wouldn't be a wasted trip; the did still need to find the dogs, and then they needed to coerce one to come with them, and then get it back without incident.

Then, there'd be the whole introducing to Eddie and eventually Venom, and any number of ways that could go. Venom seemed far more eager about it than Eddie, which had been curious, but she knew how helpful having Mr. Belvedere had been; she had a strong feeling Eddie could benefit, especially if he's feeling loss from some of the dynamic with his little squishy buddy.

"Do you have any pets, Seifer? Here or at home?"

"Heh, yeah probably not. Doubt anyone even knows we're out here." How would they? That'd be an impossible task to undertake. He doubted even Esthar with all their crazy technology could even begin to search for them on another world entirely.

Too bad they didn't have any cheese. No dog has ever said no to cheese, Seifer is fairly convinced that cheese is a universal sign of peace for dogs. Then again if they're dog-like enough maybe they just need to give them the right kind of ear scratches, provided they had ears, and that'd be good enough? One could hope.

He shook his head. "Nah. Not allowed back home. My housemate has one of those peacat things. I've never had one. How about you?"

"I had a cat back home, Mr. Belvedere. He was very ... particular. He liked what he liked and didn't budge one way or another despite attempts to coerce and befriend. He liked me, though, and that's all that really mattered at the end of the day."

It would have been nice if he had gotten along with her ex-fiancee, while they were together, but he was at least civil enough.

"I'd like to get a pet, I think. Maybe even one of those peacats. How is it living with one?" She wondered if their expansive tails ever got in the way.

"Mr. Belvedere? Cute name." He'd probably be boring and name his Mittens or "jerk cat" or something. Seifer wasn't always very inventive with names. "Yeah, that's just how cats are though isn't it?" He wouldn't know, he never had a cat.

"Eh, not bad. She sleeps most of the time. Some kind of magical power of getting under your feet when you least expect it though." Nope that was just normal cat behavior. The tail wasn't too bad. Slight tripping hazard when she was insisting on trying to meander between your feet of course. Mostly she was a cat, with the added addition of molting feathers instead of shedding. Whether that was better or worse was up for debate.

"Thanks. He's a character in a television show I used to watch, back when I was younger." That show was part of the reason she'd wanted to become a lawyer in the first place, incidentally.

She chuckles, "That 'magical power' of getting underfoot is something that all cats posses; at least the ones in my world did as well. I cannot tell you how many times I was nearly sent face-first into the cabinets trying to feed him because he was somehow always stepping right where I was about to go. Sorry to break the illusion."

"What was it about?" They had television in his world, just not much of it with the worldwide interference. And of course Garden didn't exactly provide cable for the cadets.

"I dunno, just 'cause it's innate to all of 'em doesn't mean it's not still magical." He said with a chuckle. It's a unique skill, managing to be right where he wants to put his foot no matter where he saw her just three seconds ago. In the living room? Nope, under your feet. Especially when eggs were involved. "Pretty sure food's the trigger. She sure appears quick if I'm trying to eat."

"Okay, point taken. They all do seem to appear with supernatural intent."

Anne pauses to listen and glance around, hoping to catch the gurgle of water over stones. This was entirely new territory for her, and it has been a while since she's been out camping. Even then, the paths were familiar; favorite campsites and trails and checking on that downed tree year after year to see how much it had been claimed by the surrounding plants and animals.

This was all new, and while she's taking her own precautions, intentionally bending branches here and there, she's counting on their guide to them to and from the river safe.

Catching the things; she'll appreciate any help, but that's her mission.

"Any idea how much farther we've got? Just - out of curiosity. I'm not giving up or anything."

"We should be getting close to the river soon," He pointed ahead of them, pausing as he made his way through some of the brush. For someone his size, he was pretty good at weaving his way through without making terribly much noise. Not silent by any stretch, just enough to make it clear he wasn't entirely knew to this pushing his way through undergrowth thing. "Listen." Distantly they could indeed hear the rush of water growing closer.

Pleased with their progress he nodded, even sparing Anne a faint grin. "Almost there. Come on." As he moved forward he held back a particularly obnoxious branch out of their path. There, he'll help, he realizes he'd been somewhat impolite through much of their trek. He's unaccustomed to traveling with someone who might not be as heavily trained as he is. This is a new experience for them both.

Hopefully the adventure will bear fruit and Anne will be able to bring herself back a new pet!

Edited 2018-12-21 03:09 (UTC)

Anne smiles back at him as she hears the telltale signs of the river. It's not loud - the very fact that they both had to stop completely for a moment to hear it meant they still had a little bit of a walk left, but it was a least within earshot, and that's encouraging.

She thanks him as he holds the branch aside. She's not exactly expecting white-glove service, but the gesture is appreciated.

As they get closer, she pulls the rope out of her pocket and works at tying a loop on the end.

Still some walk to go, but they were getting closer. It shouldn't be too long before they reach it. Then from there came the trick of trying to find the dogs, as well as how to tame one. "Y'know, lucky for us there aren't monsters here," He mused aloud, it occurring to him he hadn't been harassed even once by a Bite Bug. It was both nice, and a little disconcerting. "Back home we'd be constantly annoyed tryin' to go this far out."

He'd expect Caterchipillars, Funguars, and Bite Bugs at the very least. This was positively pleasant. When it comes to the catching stage he'll hang back and let her handle it. Seifer's not exactly astounding with animals and he's understandably wary of scaring their quarry off.

"Lucky us indeed. I did some hiking in my world, camping now and then. Depending on where you went you could run into bears, or mountain lions, or different kinds of snakes, but the animals here ... something else entirely. I've been assured these crocdogs aren't brutal killers like the crocodiles I know, but I'm still reserving a fair bit of skepticism until I see the things in action."

It had been a very nice trek, and reminded her quiet jaunts through some of the parks the greater bay area offered, like Water Dog Lake, or northwards up in Muir Woods. "I wouldn't mind taking more hikes like this. Back home I used it as a way to relax from my job and life in the city, but it's got it's own charm here; a chance to step away from your own head, almost."

"You have lions? Like, living lions?" They're mythological where he's from. Ancient creatures that may or may not have existed at one point in time. "We had wilderness survival training where I'm from. Had to, you get caught out on your own chances of surviving the night were pretty slim. Monsters would try to eat you just to eat you. No real rhyme or reason for it. Not even sure if hunger mattered." Monsters were strange creatures, wild and ravenous. They certainly made expanding cities and towns difficult.

So far it had been incredibly peaceful. Quite nice, all things considered. And far too cold for mosquitoes, so an additional bonus. Stay out of your own head? She has a point there. Definitely something he has to practice doing. It's not a good place to hang out in there. "It seems pretty safe overall, you should. We'll find out if these crocdogs are anything to be concerned about soon enough." Once they reach the river and actually find one.

"Yes, we had lions, in Africa, the mountain lions and pumas in North America were a little different. There were big cats all over the world; jaguars, panthers, tigers ... they're not in great numbers now, but people are trying to preserve them." Poachers, land encroachment, she wondered how long until the idea of a 'living lion' was an ancient concept.

"Did you not have lions anymore where you're from?"

Half of those creatures Seifer couldn't even drum up an image for, lions he knew of as a vaguely mythological creature that might have existed at one point in time. Others were completely alien names. How odd, yet he found it fascinating regardless.

"Not sure if we ever did, they're considered a mythological animal where I'm from. If they did exist, they're long dead now. Or mutated. The Lunar Cries don't leave much behind when they happen, monsters took over and ate anything that wasn't quick enough to stay out of their way." Which meant territorial predators were quick to become extinct or permanently altered. Only a few domesticated species, some birds, and sea creatures largely remained.

She would have guessed some of the dangers that plague animals on her own world, but finds herself frowning at Seifer's word usage. "Lunar Cries? That sounds like something specific. And monsters; what are the monsters like?"

It certainly sounded like his world was a fair bit more dangerous than her own.

She wondered where this one fit in. It hand't been too bad so far, given there were a few of them that knew how to translate advanced knowledge into safer simpler times. There are still times she wished for a convenience store or mall kiosk.

Definitely not another person from his world then, probably for the best considering. He has no problem explaining. "The Lunar Cry is an event that happens... Eh," He picks a hand up to wave in a so-so fashion. "Every 80 years about, give or take. Ain't exactly on a schedule. Anyway, when the monster population gets too dense on the moon they gather up at one spot and fall down to our planet."

Another gesture as he mimes the effect of a great column of space-bound monsters crashing into the planet.

"Usually obliterates anything it hits," If she couldn't guess, yes the damage is immense. "As for the monsters, well... They come in all shapes and sizes. Highly aggressive, eat anything that moves especially people. Y'know, monsters. Travel between towns can be tricky. We got ways of dealin' with 'em of course, still a pain."

He talks about them like they're annoying as mosquitoes, not literal dragons that sometimes show up to chew up your communication cables. This world was a veritable paradise of peaceful in comparison. Boring though. If he didn't have work to keep himself occupied he'd certainly go stir crazy.

Anne's eyes grow wide at the description. "I cannot even begin to imagine what it must be like living in a world like that." Monsters literally falling from the moon. That's probably the bit she'll keep thinking about in the small hours of the morning.

"You sound like you've got it covered, though? I mean, I guess if it's a regular occurrence your people have found ways to manage or combat them to some point of survival?"

Oh it was pretty alarming to be sure. He's even witnessed, caused it. Though he's not exactly about to volunteer that information those were... not his proudest moments. "Lotta call for mercenaries and soldiers to try to keep the populations in check. There's always a huge boom after a Cry, they taper off and breed while they're on the planet waiting for the next round." He shrugs. It's just one of those facts of life one learned to live with. Like earthquakes and tornadoes.

Only this is a city destroying tornado from the moon. "Kinda, there's no defense that I know of against a direct hit. Plenty of cities, even entire civilizations have been wiped out by that. Sure someone's workin' on it, in the meantime it keeps mercenaries in business."

"So, the actual event is on par with a natural disaster and the mercenaries are around for the cleanup? I mean, tell me if I'm asking too many questions; this is just so different from anything we've had to deal with in my world."

She picks her way carefully, listening as the river is getting louder. Almost there.

"Basically. It is a natural disaster, when you think about it. Nah, you're fine I don't mind answerin'," But he thought about the latter half and shook his head. "Not just that. Lotta what mercenaries do are monster elimination jobs. But there's the normal wars between humans they get called in for too. Or subtle missions like assassinations or whatever. Basically if it's something someone'll pay a soldier to do, they'll sell it."

Infiltration, reconnaissance, assassinations as he said. You name it. They didn't care.

Very close! They're heading further south as they go. Following along with the sound of the river. Seifer assumed that would be the best way to look.

"I guess it doesn't matter what world you're in; we humans will always find a reason to fight." She participated in less bloody, more yelling kind of disagreements."

She doesn't mind the trek. If anything, it's making her want to take more leisurely hiking trips without such a specific goal in mind.

"Heh, that's one thing that seems universal." No matter what planet, solar system, or universe they all really enjoyed starting wars with each other. Seifer couldn't exactly talk, he'd had his hand in more than enough fires. Not that he was going to come out and admit any of that.

Shameful time, that was.

But hey, the good news was that the sound of the river was drawing ever closer. "Careful, don't wanna go walkin' into it." He advised. With the thick undergrowth it could be easy to miss the bank until it was too late.

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How much is that puppy in the window ...

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