T - Kari, Vyn - Complete

[carcinoGeneticist]

At first, Simun had been inclined to finish his own investigation of the basement before turning his attention to his sister. It wasn't out of a lack of love, rather that he had to assume that something as odd as a little door in a house must have been the product of a hallucination.

That was, of course, until he'd felt the wind. A shiver went all the way up and down his spine, and he slowly made his way to his sister's side. His heart was pounding the whole way, and he bit his lip to keep from making any noises. He stood beside Kamina, ears panning forward. There was indeed a little house there, a tiny door that was open just a crack. One of his ears twitched. "...Do you hear that?" He asked, glancing around. He swore he could hear violins... He kept at her side as she called into the door, and then nearly jumped out of his skin when she wailed.

"Maybe the people inside heard you, too," he said, embarrassed and trying to hide how badly he'd been startled. Hopefully his fur would return to laying normally against his body sometime soon. The sound of footsteps informed him that people were headed down, and that was also a good thing. They were all older, more use in a battle. He raised his head and blinked at them as they approached, managing a small smile. "It's over here!" He announced, trying to speed the process.

Then the door opened fully. Simun's attention locked onto the small black entryway, the wind coming out from inside (which must have meant there was something in the blackness...), and he frowned. Nose twitching, he leaned in, sniffing at the air that was coming out while trying to keep a safe distance back.

~~~

Her brother was awake! Shoshanna let out a thankful cry as she embraced the boy, clinging tightly. "Oh, Geronimo, I mithed you tho bad! I didn't know if..." She choked back the words. It didn't matter if she'd thought she'd never find him, because she had found him. She followed his lead down to the stairs, though she moved slowly. The whole night had just been wrong, and with people screaming from down below, she wasn't nearly as enthusiastic about heading down there, herself.

But there was really no choice in it, because she had to go down with her brother, and he seemed intent on it. She tromped down the stairs as quickly as she could, letting out a small gasp of fear when the mouse and Geronimo collided, tumbling a few feet. Quickly, she rushed to her brother's side, looking him over for signs of injury. She bared too-long fangs at the Mouse, fur fluffing out. Was he checking himself out?! "Arrogant fop," she hissed softly, nudging her brother with her head. At least he was unharmed.

[Vyn]

The world had gone mad. Of this Jovan was utterly certain. He knew he should've been afraid and yet... somehow he couldn't bring himself to squash the little guy. It rolled casually in his ink pool and, when he scooped it up, it slithered up his tentacle and cheerfully draped itself around his neck.

Honestly, this went beyond simple madness but if this was his new life, part ink monster or whatever, then he'd just have to make due. The young king took a deep breath in and out before turning his attention to Ayden. "Well then... Uhm, yes... I appear to be alright. My head's fuzzy but nothing I can't handle." He felt terribly exhausted but it wasn't so much that he couldn't function. And then they were blessedly on the move. Kamina's yowl was like a hot prod and suddenly they were all rushing toward the stairs.

As they all poured into the basement, Jovan stepped past the group and headed straight for Kamina. He was blind to everyone else in the room, just utterly thankful to see the delightfully strange girl safe and in one piece. "Are you alright?" He touched her shoulder lightly with a tentacle and gave her a warm smile before his attention was drawn to the box. His nose wrinkled at the faint current of air that seemed to escape the blackness. "Don't worry, I doubt you've done anything wrong."

What a strange thing... he didn't remember seeing it there before and... hadn't Evan vanished from the basement? Could this really be how he'd done it? Brows furrowed, he glanced back to Eurwen. "Do you think this is how Evan got out?"

[Nathalia]

((Ayden gave the thing on Jovan's shoulder the best hairy eye he could manage, just in cae it got any "ideas", and then decided to ignore it in favor of the door that opened onto nowhere before them.
He'd seen something like it before...
He pecked Eurwen gently on the top of the head and murmured in her ear. "Not if I can help it..."
Flushing a little before addressing the rest of their motley crew.

"This...this may seem like an off suggestion, but I got here from the Selkie through something very similar to that...about three days ago, actually." He muttered, gingerly stepping forward, letting his fingers slide slowly out of Eurwen's grasp as he roved around the box and then back to the front.
"In fact...I'm rather hoping it might do me the favor of returning me there. One second." He turned to Eurwen, giving her an apologetic look. "I promise."
Without any further comment, he slid inside.
The door made a sucking sound, as though inhaling, and Ayden vanished.

It took a good three minutes before he reappeared, tumbling awkwardly out of the short door and scrambling back up, looking thrilled.
"Come on! It takes us back, really, I know the area. It takes us right into the attic of an Inn called the "Rising Wing", I've been there a few times. Please, follow me, try to keep quiet and we'll go out the fire escape out back, it's pretty easy to get to the city from there, come on."

He appears relieved and slightly elated, as though this is quite the windfall of good fortune, he gestures to the door again as though asking Eurwen if she would like to go first.))


~Nathalia

[Kari Muffin]

Eurwen hadn't really meant to say what she did out loud, and she could feel her face turn bright red at Ayden's response. At least she didn't have to worry now, that made her feel sightly better. Only slightly, the night wasn't over though.

She listened to the explanation of what was going on. She didn't like the sound of it. What was going on, and who really was pulling the strings? So he had arrived here in a similar fashion? Was it on purpose?

When Ayden let go she refrained from making a distressed sound. This wasn't the time to protest when he actually knew what was going on. "Don't die," she replied, lacing her paws together as she tried to remain calm. Kamina seemed to be keeping Jovan busy at least.

Kamina blinked. So pretty mouse man knew what was happening? Well that was reassuring. Eurwen-Ivy seemed a bit nervous though. The cat gave Jovan a thankful look, before she noticed the small creature that was hanging off of him. Oh! What was that delightfully cute thing? "Who... is your friend?" she whispered, and pointed to the little blob, the current situation completely forgotten. "Can I... poke it?"

Eurwen waited. Looking as composed as she possibly could. When Ayden finally reappeared after what seemed like an eternity, she gave a little sigh of relief. So the door actually leaded where they needed to go? It seemed a little... too good to be true. She bit on her lower lip.

An Inn eh? Well, at least they could just slip out the back. She nodded and took the lead, "Oh, I would love to, thank you, Ayden." She blew him a kiss before heading through the door.

[Vyn]

So Ayden knew what that thing was? Jovan hesitated but he stepped back slightly so that Ayden could go through. "Be careful." He smiled weakly, his worry showing through quite blatantly. He'd always felt he could handle himself fairly well in most situations but this entire night was utterly beyond him. At very least Ayden seemed to be in control and, for that, Jovan was quite thankful for his company. He didn't like the prospect of the man potentially being separated from them.

Jovan was so distracted by his concern for Ayden and the strange door that he didn't notice Kamina's staring until she spoke up. He twitched slightly and his attention dragged back to the blob. "Oh uhm... I don't know, really. He just popped up in uhm... my ink." He lifted a paw and showed her the slight dripping. It was beginning to slow, thankfully. "He seems docile enough... Just... be careful?"

The blue-eyed blob of ink, wriggled on Jovan's neck, leaning to peer awkwardly at the unusual girl. It gives Jovan a questioning look. Jovan simply smiles at the little creature and Kamina. "It still needs a name. Why don't you help me think of a name if it actually hangs around?"

And then Ayden returned. Jovan's ears perked and his tail gave a brief wag. "That's wonderful!" He turned to Kamina and gave her a gentle embrace and a nudge forward with his tentacle. "Alright, Kamina, you first. I'll be right behind you and, remember: keep quiet." Jovan will wait for Kamina to go through, and then follow her.

What little trepidation he felt when entering the strange portal was really nothing in comparison to his desire to just be out. Hopefully whatever was going on in the city would be much much less in Selkie.

(Kari asked me to nudge Kamina through, and so I have. n_n<3)

[Lauryn de Vampyre]

While Geronimo hugged his sister fiercely to him, Jeremiah grinned and stuck his tongue out at Eurwen after managing to avoid being hit by the box she'd thrown his way. She was just jealous she didn't look as good as he did with feathers!

Miah pursed his lips and raised an eyebrow at her in a playful gesture, "Don't hate me because I'm beautiful."

"Oh, Shoshanna! I was so very worried about you too! Things just aren't right. The world is bad and scary enough normally, but today..." he shuddered. "I don't even really remember how I got here." His voice was low and a little scared. "Sho, you don't think... you don't think he has anything to do with what's going on, do you?" he asked his Sister, afraid of the answer. The "He" Ger was referring to was of course their father, Gojirra.

Both Miah and Geronimo turned towards Ayden as he addressed them all. Geronimo stayed close to his sister, having a slight fear of anyone who wasn't her. But this older Mouse, he seemed... nice, almost. Knowledgeable at least. Too knowing, perhaps? Geronimo couldn't help the small suspicion grow in his head. He said he'd used a door on the side of a box to travel before. Who in their right mind would have tried going through such a thing in the first place unless he planned to have them all follow him. They would go through, and end up in another basement. They'd be tied up, tortured and experimented on again until they finally died. And this time, there would be no escape.

Geronimo breathed fast and shallow, the scenario in his head getting the better of him. He watched as Ayden went through the door.

Jeremiah also watched Ayden depart from his next among the moldy boxes. He looked at the mirror and frowned. He didn't want to have to leave it behind; it was so old-looking and pretty! During the three minutes it took for the older Mouse to travel to and fro Miah rummaged through the other boxes in the basement until he found what he was looking for.

"Aha!" he exclaimed, pulling out a simple satchel made for Animal forms to sling over their shoulders so the bag part itself would lay nestled against his side. Miah slipped the old mirror into the satchel and walked back and forth, making sure it didn't hinder him. On a day like today, you might never know when you needed to run for your life.

Pursing his lips in thought, he rummaged through the other items, boxes and shelves in the basement while they waited. He found a few candles, some matches, a little bit of rope and a block of what looked like extremely molded cheese. A disgusted look on his face Miah put the cheese back on the lowest shelf but put the other items in the satchel along with the mirror. They might come in handy.

Just as he'd finished his little search, Ayden turned back up... eagerness in his eyes. "An Inn!" Miah exclaimed happily. "Maybe while we're there we can find a bite to eat? I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm famished!"

Geronimo glanced nervously at his sister. They were all leaving through the doorway. "What if this is a trap?!" he asked Shoshanna, glancing suspiciously at Ayden. He didn't know the man! For all he knew the Mouse could be a friend of Gojirra's! The Feline's fur stood on end, his matted tail twitching about behind him.

He nuzzled against Sho's cheek, "I'm scared. What if we go through that door and go back to the life we used to have?" Small shudders began to wrack his body. "But- but, I don't want to stay here either."

Ger whined, a pitiful noise. "What should we do?"

[Satra]

[GD these bloblings are cute.]

The creature seemed to like Jovan... it didn’t seem harmful. Victor shut off the ability. No use in enduring the headache from the constant reminder that ‘HEY THERE’S MAGIC EVERYWHERE’. Given what’s been going on, no shit. He decided to save the part of the ability that could only be used once a day for later.

His body relaxed a little, but his fur remained on edge. What a horrid little thing. Victor did not like it at all and did not see how it appealed to Eurwen. He was shaken out of his shock to run with everyone else to Kamina’s aid.

When he came across Miah looking at himself in the mirror, he paused then brushed it off. Made sense. Only a few minutes ago, the man looked completely different. It was such a dramatic change. Granted, the smug, narcissistic enjoyment on Miah’s face almost made him roll his eyes, but Victor had to give him that one, too. It was a rather attractive change.

Speaking of change...

Once at the bottom of the stairs, Victor gave himself a once over. No ink on him. He breathed a sigh of relief.

Through the interactions, Victor stayed mostly quiet, still a little embarrassed from over reacting and grabbing the girl away from the ink blob in the way that he did earlier. He blinked when Ayden explained how he got here. Did that mean he actually knew what it was, or was it an accident? He swallowed, but couldn’t quite bring up the nerve to voice his doubts. He felt nervousness clutch at him when he disappeared. He really didn’t want anything to happen to him... He shifted nervously at first, then took to pacing during the three minutes he was gone. The short period of time seem to drag on forever.

Eurwen went through, then Jovan mentioned Kamina should go. He took a deep breath and spoke up.

“Maybe... m-maybe all of the kids should go next. Just so we can get them out of here. I’ll be right back.” He started heading for the stairs. He really wanted to get another vest to cover up. It had been a long time since he’d last walked about in public with his rot uncovered, and he felt rather self-conscious about it now.

[Nathalia]

((Ayden watched Eurwen go through, followed by Kamina and Jovan.
He grinned, flushing a little as he caught Eurwen's "kiss" with a self-conscious laugh and flicked an ear back before turning to Victor.
"That's...you know, that's a good idea, Victor. You two, come on." He said, gesturing to the huddled Selkie mixes.
He heard the boy mutter something about a trap, missing the rest in hissed whispers to his sister.
"Come on, it's ok, I'm a Selkie like you. I don't want you hurt." He murmured, kneeling down a little ways away from the boy, a little wary of the Feline mix's claws.
"My friends are waiting for you, and we'll be heading away from anywhere dangerous. It's ok. We're going to the Selkie Lakes."

He did his best to entice the pair to over to the door and usher them through.
"Miah, come on. We should be able to find something once we get into town, honestly, I'm getting to the point where I'll need a bite soon, I understand." He gave the man a light laugh, eager to leave, glanced around the room, and motioned to Victor as he came back down the stairs.
"Victor. One moment... Victor, I misjudged you. I just wanted to say that...I'm sorry. I'll admit to being brought up with a bias, and you've quashed that rather quickly. My apologies."
He gave the man an awkward shrug.
"After you, I'll be right there."

Miah also seems to have found the following while digging through boxes:))

Jade Ring: This beautiful silver ring is set with small bits of dark green jade. It tingles slightly when touched and if placed on will seem to erupt the image of an incredible and awe-inspiring Highland/Morganberry Feline.
The creature seems ethereal, it's so beautiful, and even if it isn't necessarily to someone's direct preference normally, they will find it to be the only thing they could possibly desire while its image is visible. Genderless, its image appeals as a gender that the person viewing would most wish to see.
Once a week, the owner of the ring will find that they are now able to summon this image for a full 30 seconds. During this time Cards ranked Jack or lower will have eyes and attention only for this captivating image of pure beauty. The user can only conjure and use this spell if they are wearing the ring at the time. This means the ring can be stolen and used by others.

While Victor was searching for another vest, he found this:

This paisley patterned, ruffled drapery still seems in fine condition, why don’t you pull it down? Might fetch a good price if y-...
What's this?
A small tin jar bounced out of the ties at the back and rolled to a stop on the floor; its top is stoppered with lead and it smells a bit like cinnamon and ink.
Strange...what could this have been doing tied up in the drapes?
Something inside sloshes around a bit when the jar is titled...I don't think you should drink it...
This item can be used in a breeding and will have large and permanent effects on the children that would be produced.

((Once through the little door, everyone finds themselves in a dusty old attic, a window to the far left is large enough for adults to climb out of and has a fire escape outside.
There is old furniture covered in sheets, a few piles of neatly labeled boxes, and a good stash of old mirrors in the corner.
Ayden shows up a few seconds after Victor, looking mildly embarrassed and pulling the door to behind him.

"All right, out and down, everyone. Once we've reached town, we ought to be able to find my friend and hopefully the Mayor. I can report what I've found out, and we can see about getting to the bottom of everything that's been going on."
He gave the group a little smile.
"I'm going to have to see about getting a raise on this project, at least enough to get you all back home in comfort. There ought to be food in town, it's only a mile or two, come on."))



~Nathalia

[Kari Muffin]

It was nice that the other side was clear of anything dangerous. Just a simple dusty attic that didn't have anyone trying to kill her. She briefly scanned the area for anything dangerous, just in case Ayden had missed something. Some properly labeled boxes, some creepy mirrors, and some covered furniture. She poked around briefly before hopping over to the window.

She peered out of it. Yeah, they could probably handle that. She waited for everyone to arrive before actually taking any actions. At least Ayden was nice enough to lead the little rag tag team, then again he was the only one who knew exactly where they were going. She propped open the window.

Then he mentioned a friend. Friend. Huh... wait. Her whiskers twitched a bit. Crap, she probably should have mentioned this sooner but things had been so bloody complicate. She bit her lip for a moment. "Um... Ayden," she said as she slipped off the sill, edging closer to him. Her voice was lowered a bit. "We can walk and talk but uh... I briefly mentioned something earlier about that little stabbing incident. You aren't friends with a fox with an eye patch or bull mix are you?"

Kamina was ready to go, mildly preoccupied with the small delightful creature that Jovan had managed to tame. Though she wasn't sure about climbing out windows and she'd probably need a good deal of help for something like that.

Her ears panned forward as she listened to Ayden. So they were now in the Lakes. That was interesting. How was she going to get home? Mommy wasn't going to like this one bit. And whoever was with her when they were shopping was going to be furious.

But she got moving, she didn't want to be the one to hold up the group, she was slow enough as it was.

[Satra]

[Since Victor doesn't like to steal, I had to change up the discovery of the tin. :B *had fun*]

When it seemed like no one needed him at the moment (big surprise), he jogged up the stairs to search for a vest as quickly as possible. He took the top of the stairs slowly, trying to see if anything dangerous waited for him. When he saw the coast was clear, he went straight for the vests, dodging any and all ink splots on the floor.

The drapery caught his eye. He did consider taking it down to sell. It was theft... but everything he had had been stolen. When the got to the Selkie Lakes, how was he to pay for his own food? It wasn't until after Miah had said something did Victor realize how hungry he was. He knew he couldn't bring himself to mooch off others.

He approached the drapery, weighing his options. Just as he decided it would be better not to take the drapes, he realized he was moments away from stepping in a puddle of ink. Reacting most gracelessly, he tripped. He managed to avoid the puddle, but ended up accidentally grabbing the drapery anyway and tearing it down in his efforts to not fall over completely. The tin dropped out of it and rolled right in front of him. The scent of ink coming from the tin remained hidden under the ink all around the room, but it smelled like cinnamon! Victor was quite down with that. He picked out a vest, one with real pockets that he could take the tin along with him. He sighed and went to the register. Instead of breaking it, he pushed a few buttons simulating a transaction and the drawer popped open. He grabbed a very small handful of coins and placed those in the other pocket. He closed the drawer and returned to the basement as quickly as he could.

He blinked when Ayden spoke to him. He nodded and approached the man, curious as to what he wanted to talk about. He smiled kindly, understanding.

"I appreciate that, Ayden. A lot of people are raised the same way and, believe me, a fair amount of Lowlanders don't help by reinforcing. But I am grateful that you can look past that. Thank you." He nodded politely to the man when he requested he go on before him and walked past him into the door. When he was in, he looked back to makes sure Ayden got in, too. He was a little alarmed at how... unreasonably happy he was to see him emerge. Crap, he was developing a crush, wasn't he? Crap, crap, crap. He squashed it as best as he could and nodded at Ayden.

"Lead the way."