Devon - Not having a good day

[Gaius]

Devon brought a hoof to his chin. After bringing it to partway up his jaw; he moved it out a bit until he reached the true end of his new face. He couldn't stroke his chin, obviously, so he settled for resting his chin on the underside of his hoof, in a pose not unlike Rodin's The Thinker. 'Eh, I guess that works.' "Ah, your mate." It felt weird to Devon to say it. He was so accustomed to people referring to their significant other as 'boyfriend,' 'girlfriend,' 'husband,' or 'wife.' 'Mate' was a new one. 'Eh, just cultural differences, I guess.'

Before the donkey could ruminate any further, he noticed that Drifter appeared to have learned a new trick. And the poor wolf appeared to be as surprised as anyone about it. "Huh..." Then an explanation appeared in his mind, around the same time as the new Nism appeared in his sight. "Oh!" he said, jerking his head a bit more in her direction. Devon wasn't really startled. At least not as much as with Deen, since he had at least an idea of what to expect. 'At least it means I probably don't have an instinct for skittishness.' Still, he couldn't help reacting a little when a) he had been watching a spot where there was nothing shortly before there was someone, and b) his new ears and other senses (though he was damned if he could make sense of many) bombarded him with details about the newly Noticeable Nism.

Alliteration behind him, Devon just stared a moment. He didn't quite know what he'd expected creatures like Deen and his mate to do, but it sure hadn't been playing on the forest floor with a wolf pup. She just had such a childlike playfulness about her... And Drifter just looked so damn pitiful... So, while Devon tried clamping his lips together to contain it, he laughed. It felt good. He supposed as long as he could get a good laugh in, he could get through anything. Unfortunately, the predictable happened: after a few moments, his relatively light laughter was cut off by a loud, coarse, animal sound. Immediately, every muscle tensed and Devon forced his mouth shut while his ears and tail did their drooping thing. "Damnit," he mumbled. Luckily the image of Thoee snuggling with Drifter was just too amusing, so the second syllable gave way to a little chuckle. "Sorry," he said, wondering if his face could visibly blush, with the fur. "Guess I'm not doing too hot with first impressions, today."

[PridesPrice]

When Kibaki had wondered if they had looked alike, he had more meant in general...as far as the tail and scales and the whole overall -odd- appearance it had. He imagined the 'mate' was likely to have feminine parts this one didn't...as far as kinship...Kibaki had a feeling were he to see a dozen of the creatures they would all look the same to him. They would soon see!

Drifter's nose and ears were working furiously searching for any sign of another presence.

"My Love, where did you find such a cute puppy!"

Drifter jumped back, all four feet off the ground at the same time...however those paws never did get to touch ground. She got to hear plenty of snarling, seeing a wonderful view of his fang's. His one back paw was the only problem...it was twitching in time to his ear being scratched. His head turned after a moment to give Kibaki a rather disgusted glare...somehow it was his fault this had happened.

Kibaki was doing his best to hide a smile...but it was so hard...he failed miserably. For what it was worth he wasn't laughing at Drifter...that would be just too much he imagined. "That's Drifter," he informed the new Nism as she uh...cuddled his wolf.."he's not normally very social..."
Kibaki had a feeling Drifter was going to sulk a long while after this.

Kibaki looked amusingly at Dev when he apologized...asuming he had meant for laughing at the wolf...not the sound that came out. "It's alright...Drift can survive a little bit of laughter. He's a good sport."

Drifter meanwhile had visions or slicing through different parts of the creature that was treating him like some ordinary wolf pup...damn it he was special! His glares continued at the entire group...while his back paw continued to twitch in response to that ear getting scratched.

[Roose Hurro]

Female Nism differed from their male counterparts in more than just... ahem!... parts. Thoee had a tuft of thick fur on her tail's end... had no feathered shroudruff... and her fur had a metalic sheen to it, contrast to Deen's more colorful but more pastel tones. Not to mention her sleekness, contrast to his more evident muscle. Perhaps Devon and Kibaki had noticed, when Deen lifted his shroudruff... perhaps they had noted the pale cream underfur, and the three bright canary yellow chevron markings underneath? Not to mention both the male's other and the female Nism's primary markings. The color of Deen's shroudruff, blue-tipped red, and his primary marks, sign of his distinct Bloodline heritage. Same with Thoee's marking variations. Genetic fingerprints, if you will, fully visible over their unclothed bodies. And Deen? Being male, he had... ummm... other, normally hidden markings... a natural "tatoo" that further defined his family heritage.

So, no... if Kibaki had been able to see other Nism, unrelated to either Thoee or Deen, the differences would have been visibly evident, though the distinct gender differences would be the same.........

As for Drifter's blood-thirsty visions? He could've tried, but... shortly after they'd first arrived in Deep Forest, this sleek, slender, graceful female had found herself carrying a one-thousand pound male tiger-gargoyle around like a newborn kitten. Perhaps Drifter could feel that strength, cuddled as he was against warm, furry female chest, hard muscle under soft fur, a steel-like quality to her scaled arms, despite her gentle touch. Her tender scritches...

... her smile at Drifter's twitch of leg. Warm. Kind. Caring.

Her time to be a mother wasn't yet, this being her and Deen's first WorldWalk... their honeymoon, if you will. Their first child, not ready to be conceived until they returned... Home. Tradition, this. Difficult to keep. Which explained her behavior with Drifter, this child-wolf who had no mother evident. His warmth agaist her warmth. His heartbeat and breath against her heartbeat and breath. This made her waiting easier.

Of course, Deen also had his own feelings on the matter of fatherhood. He twitched inside as much as Drifter's leg twitched on the outside. To hold a child he and her had made. That would come, in time, yes... but Deen had never been a father, just as Thoee had never been a mother. Both wanted to be, both waited...

... and both found comfort in a child-wolf named Drifter.

A twitch seemed to have gotten into Devon, as well. Not as badly as Drifter's, but his swear-word turned chuckle, after his laugh, and his poor "first impressions" admission after his curse-chuckle, seemed to indicate a certain... awkwardness.

Deen?

Well, with each step, Thoee exuded a sensual grace, while Deen's own grace held a more "male" quality. A strut, if you will. Evident when he stood up from his haunches and met his mate halfway, swinging around just off her shoulder, to give her a hug from behind, so as not to "crush" poor Drifter. He also gave her a very affectionate lick to the cheek, before briefly laying his muzzle against hers...

... "Sweetness, as you already know, this is Drifter..." Deen gave the child-wolf a quick yet gentle touch on the nose... "Devon is the guy in bluejeans..." With his tail entwined with hers, he used the hand recently at risk of finger-loss to gesture... "and this is Kibaki, Drifter's friend."

With her and her male hip to hip, child-wolf cradled, Thoee still managed a graceful nod and refined flick of ears to make greeting...

... "I am Thoee, of the Bloodline Rurrum. Honored to meet all three of you...."

After a smile to Devon and Kibaki, she gave a special smile to Drifter, licked his forehead, then set him back down on his own four feet.........

Thoee bowed to Drifter, then... like her mate had earlier... she gave the greeting of Heart and Breath and Warmth to Devon (with assurance his first impressions had been very impressive)... and then to Kibaki, as well.

Deen looked down towards Drifter, and gave him a grin and a wink...

... "Our guests are all hungry, Sweetness... I think we can spare something special for this group."

Thoee returned to her mate's side, to return his earlier affections...

... "Yes, I think we can, My Love...."


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[Gaius]

At Kibaki's assurance that Drifter could take a joke, Devon smiled a bit. "Are you sure he knows that?" The pup certainly looked ready to shred the lot of them, if it got half the chance.

His eyes moved from Drifter to the delighted tormentor, and Devon couldn't help smiling at the pair of Nism. He'd always liked seeing people in love. And, while their gestures put him somewhat in mind of two kitties, there was no denying the love and affection behind them. 'So happy...' He wondered idly if he'd ever find a girl he cared for like that, and who would care for him the same way. 'Hopefully,' he added after a moment, 'When I'm more myself.'

On a similar note, Devon found quite a bit to think about the manner in which he was introduced. "The guy in bluejeans," Deen had said, not "the donkey" or "that donkey guy." It was a small thing, but it relieved a concern Devon hadn't realized he'd had: that he would be defined in others' minds by his new shape. Being described by the part of his appearance he had chosen instead of had forced on him just gave a warm feeling. "Pleased to meet you," he said with a nod, still smiling. He wondered if being referred to like that would be the norm.

Speaking of norms, Devon was more prepared for the greeting of Heart and Breath and Warmth when it came, altogether far less awkward throughout it. At Thoee's words, he wondered for a moment if she was kidding, but decided not; he'd had a good ear for sarcasm as a human, and was certain he'd be able to pick up on the tone now. "That's a relief," he told her, still a mite embarrassed at the accidental bray. The transformed human watched as Thoee repeated the ritual with Kibaki, trying to memorize it. 'It's a little involved, but it might be less awkward than bringing a hoof to a handshake.' He then considered the mechanics of manipulating a stranger's... forelimbs using his hooves. He shot the useless things a glare. 'Ah, well. Just a thought.'

Deen then mentioned everyone's hunger to his mate, who seemed to agree that they could get something nice for everyone. The prospect of a meal set Devon's tail to swishing. Until he commanded it to stop, which, at least, reduced its movements. 'C'mon, don't start wagging! ... At least not until having a tail at all stops feeling weird.' Devon eventually gave up, and focused more on the hunger issue. "Thank you. Something to eat would be really great. What did you two have in mind?" He wondered if he'd be able to eat it.

[hawkfangor]

((OoC:

Sorry for the long wait in having your profile reviewed. Most if it looks good and he's a very interesting character; I had only one thing to point out...

You don't really have a distinct disadvantage for his swiftness. Reluctance doesn't really count, unfortunately. You might consider something regarding stamina; while donkeys are noted for their great stamina as pack animals, they don't usually go great distances at top speed, so it's plausible that he would wear out quickly if trying to run for so long.

And also, just to clarify, does he know about the gold-under-pillow and teleportation gifts yet? It's fine if he discovers them, because they do have adequate limits, I was just curious.

If you make any changes, please highlight them in another color to make them easier to find and continue RPing until you are accepted.

Thank you and Have fun!

-Hawk))

[PridesPrice]

"Are you sure he knows that?"

"Poor Drift, he might not actually. Fortunatly he's a quick learner."
Kibaki honestly thought it looked adorable seeing his wolf get cradeled. Admittedly when he first found Drifter he had held him at points, but the older Drifter had gotten the more he had protested being carried.

Drifter did indeed try to take a bite at Deen's finger when it tried to connect with his nose...it was a half-hearted bite however. For now the pup was more bark than bite...trying to preserve pride more than start a losing fight.

Kibaki imagined it would mean seeing a much larger number of nism's before he ever got a really good idea what to expect on seeing them. Kibaki had honestly been either expecting to see someone that looked pretty much identical or just an entirely different species...but he imagined what he saw made perfectly good sense. "Pleasure to meet you Thoee." Kibaki was glad that he had already seen their formal way of greeting a person twice with Dev already. That way he was ready to put his own hand on Thoee's chest when indicated.

The moment Drifter got four paws on the ground he lunged out of arms grasp, trotted a few more feet off to be on the safe side and sat down, casting glares at the entire group, including Kibaki. His eyes and then head shifted gaze when Deen looked to him, glancing off instead at some brushes. After a moment's consideration he stood back up and trotted off into the brush. It was time to stretch his legs...maybe find a bit of food to eat alone. Either way, he was going to spend some time alone so he could mend that wounded pride.

"Special? Drifter and I arn't overly picky on what we eat..." His eyes followed where his wolf had gone. "I assume he'll come back for the food, though I'm not positive."

[Roose Hurro]

Thoee hadn't been kidding.........

She'd heard the shift in sound from laugh to bray, certainly, but Devon hadn't considered that Thoee (not to mention Deen) only knew him in his present form. Even her clear perceptions of his biosignature didn't give her any clue as to his "true" nature, despite the oddness of his chakra patterns. And it wouldn't have mattered, even if she had known his recent life story... no, his first impressions had impressed her. Humor, and the ability to laugh, had been one of the very things that had attracted her to Deen. Not the only thing, ohhh no! One of those little things. Small. But important. Devon's laugh... even his bray, his restraint and apology and honesty... had impressed her.

And though she didn't say anything, she also thought he could use a new pair of pants, though the worn ones he wore looked fitting...

... if pants on a donkey could be considered to fit.

As for the hooves, Kibaki's example showed that Thoee's guiding hand had been just that, a guide to the proper manner of ritual Nism greeting. Right hands... or, in Devon's case, right hoof... touched to chests, and a simple exchange of words. No need to manipulate, except to teach the stranger. Awkward to do with hooves, perhaps, but not impossible.

Thoee had also been impressed with Kibaki's quick social uptake of the ritual greeting. Pleased by his return graces. Her mate had met two... no, three very interesting people. Yes, Drifter would have to be found, if he didn't return when the meal's preparations were done. She would see to that, as a way to attone for her unintended insult to Drifter's pride. If needed. And she would make something special for him....

And Deen?

Well, he'd been enjoying her return affections, his shroudruff's feathers unfurled and ruffled in pleasure and pride. And love. His shroudruff had, after all, been one physical feature that had impressed her quite deeply. Though it was only one of his physical assets. Even now, she looked at him...

... he looked at her...

... and they both licked the ends of their own snouts in mutual admiration. For a few seconds, eyes giving each other a look from head to toe to tail's tip. And everywhere in between. Lover's eyes, despite the Winter's season...

... "So... not picky?" Deen gave this to Kibaki, with a thoughtful look...

... "Hmmm... that would depend on whether you like salad or barbeque." This, to Devon. Deen had alertly noted the tail swish issue, so he returned a grin... "We keep a wide variety of goodies in the fridge...."

Thoee's tuft waved over her mate's face, while her expression produced a slight roll of eyes and backward-tweaked ears...

... "We have tea, juice, milk, beer, wine... whatever you would like to drink. Meat for those who wish, vegetables and fruits of many kinds... spices and sauces... a variety of deserts...." A smile, and a wave of tail, as she'd listed items finger by finger, drawing attention to her claws. A slight, non-feline purr rumbled in her throat....

Deen reached out and clasped Thoee's hands, his own tail waving...

... "Let's put it this way... special is a very light word. You can enjoy anything from a simple bowl of oatmeal to a feast fit for a king."

Thoee gripped her mate's hands a little tighter, then licked the end of his snout before she spoke again, in turn...

... "We can surprise you with something special... we also take requests, though the ingredients we use may not be what you expect."

Deen had a sudden image in his head, so he couldn't help but chuckle...

... "I don't know why, Sweetness... seeing you with apron, pad and pencil would be so sexy........."

Thwap!

Thoee's tail tuft hit Deen "affectionately" on the back of his head, but it didn't stop his grin.........


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[Gaius]

((OOC: Thank you. And no worries about the wait. I know everyone's busy, and it was kind of long.

Ahhah! Sorry, I think I had that combined with something else, then reorganized things and forgot about it. ^_^o Anyway, I liked the stamina suggestion you gave, so I went with that when I changed it.

And nope, he hasn't the slightest idea. I added a little bit to the end to make this clear. I also put in a link to the story in question, as a courtesy.

Okay, all changes highlighted. I also changed the formatting in 'Abilities and Disadvantages,' hopefully making it easier to read. Let me know if any other issues come to mind. Also, I'm guessing you're not going to close this thread if Devon's accepted before it finishes, but just in case... I'm kinda curious where things are going to end up.

Thanks again!))

Experiencing and watching the greeting again, Devon noticed Thoee seemed not to draw up the other's hands/hand-analogues. 'Huh. And here I was thinking that would be the main issue. Yeah, it might not go smoothly, but I think I will give it a shot, the next time I meet someone. ... Unless they have their own meeting ritual.' He'd heard of Japanese businessmen extending a hand to Western trading partners, only to have them meet said Westerners' heads, going in for a bow. He smiled as he noted the parallels.

Devon wondered what Drifter was off doing, recently free from the clutches of Thoee. Maybe hunting, but probably sulking. He wasn't worried too much. Unlike himself, the wolf was naturally suited to a forest environment. And even if the little guy did get in over his head, the two Nism seemed well equipped to detect it and save him. As Kibaki expected, Drifter would probably come scurrying back if he smelled something tasty.

Deen and Thoee began going over meal options. Which sounded fantastic in terms of sheer variety. Then, Devon noticed something that made his left ear cock itself. "Wait, did you say 'fridge?' You have a refrigerator out here?" He knew some fantasy worlds had higher technological levels than most, but he hadn't expected to run across even knowledge of that 'modern' convenience in the forest. Of course, if he knew the Nism's true origins, he might have been more surprised at the implication that they hadn't gone beyond refrigeration, to using outright matter generation for food.

As for what he wanted to eat, Devon thought a bit, chuckling at Deen's comment and Thoee's reaction. "That... is the most impressive selection I think I've ever heard. I wouldn't even know where to start. So... I suppose one more surprise today won't kill me, if you've got any recommendations. I guess it should be mostly fruits and vegetables, though. ... Err, and no cabbage, please," he added, after a moment more. For some reason, Devon always felt guilty tacking caveats and addendums onto his orders, which, picky as he was, meant he was often guilty at restaurants. He was less than pleased that his ears broadcasted this to all present.

[PridesPrice]

Drifter had trotted off about a good 50yards. He had found a rabbit rather fast actually which had stopped him....however he had a minor problem. The rabbit was in its burrow...he could smell it but not quite reach it. So now he was digging at the whole with one paw, with one ear twisted back in the direction he came. He could get a free meal instead of working for the rabbit...but he felt like showing his displeasure for a bit about his treatment. Kibaki should have at least been nice enough to not be so amused...damn it.

Kibaki looked a bit surprised also at the growing list of foods. "Shall I assume you live close by then?" He had thought to ask Dev if he owned the property, to be honest he hadn't even thought of asking Deen or Thoee...though now that he thought about it he didn't know why. They hadn't mentioned this being their property...of course they never said it wasn't. Still, they couldn't live too far with such a huge selection available. "Drifter will want meat....not to picky on what type. I'm good with most meats also...though I was thinking on it...do you have apples?" Kibaki could have been polite and kept with 'whatever you want to have' but heck...if they wanted to offer a huge selection he'd make requests. "I havn't had an apple in ages."
What to drink...he'd had water since he left the house...so that was also a rather large question. "As far as to drink...nothing alcoholic...and not water. Other than that, basically anything would be nice to drink...well Drifter would just like water I'm sure."

[Roose Hurro]

Though the disciplinary thwap from Thoee hadn't hurt, Deen still put a wince in his grin and briefly rubbed the back of his head. Not that Deen minded her discipline... her diplomacy coupled with his irreverent antics, made them a perfect pair. Not that Deen couldn't behave himself, on his own. Just... well, Deen was Deen, loose, casual, very Hakuna Matata. While Thoee had the decorum and grace to compensate. She would most likely be applying "discipline" to the back of his skull more than this once during this encounter. Not that Thoee herself might not have things to say, or do things their guests might find a bit uncomfortable or awkward. They'd both noted Devon's lack of hands and upright posture... not to mention the incongruity of a donkey wearing pants.

And Deen, despite his antics, was very smart....

Forehooves were made for four-legging, and Devon's maintenance of a two-legged stance indicated something awry. Not to mention his reaction to Deen's own four-legging, earlier. As for the pants issue? Deen hadn't failed to note the downward glance quickly directed elsewhere... but Deen had also considered the issue of a creature with hooves for hands, wearing pants more suited to a human. A very practical issue! That had been part-reason for his own pants-loan comment. Yes, Thoee and Deen both went without clothes without shame or concern, but they understood clothing issues from a cultural and personal viewpoint...

... hooves, a zipper... and a full bladder?

Consideration of this question lead to other questions, in the minds of both male and female Nism. Yes, Thoee also had smarts. Her and Deen had been together long enough, despite their different personallities, they thought much alike. Another thing that made them a good pairing.

Well....

The present issue? Food and drink for their guests. Thoee found Devon's ear broadcasts cute. Deen? Well, once he cleared his mind of adult thoughts, he joined his mate in considering their guests requests. Glance of eyes between them spoke without the need for words. Thoee already had ideas of what food and drink to serve, while Deen already knew how he wanted to cook it. So.........

Thoee, tongue in cheek, used an air pencil to write air notes on her air pad, one hip thrust to the side, tail's tuft atwitch, ears back in concentration. She would let Deen and the others imagine the air apron...

... "If that is all, Gentlemen...?" A warm smile, tongue licking at her teeth, as she tucked her air pencil behind her right ear, and tucked her air pad into the air pocket of her air apron, over her furry left hip...

... "Your orders will be ready shortly...."

With that, she turned, dropped to all fours, ran a short distance, leapt...

... and slipped over Threshhold, her form vanishing from nose to tail, as if she'd leapt through some invisible door. No lights. No sound. No fireworks. No fanfare. The air simply swallowed her up, her tail's tuft the last thing to slip from sight. Deen, his grin shaded with intimate thoughts brought on by that tail... well, he sighed, gave Kibaki and Devon a glance, then...

... "She'll need my help... you guys stay here, exchange some small-talk, watch the show, and we'll take care of lunch...."

Deen then also turned, ran, leapt. Vanished, from nose to tail's tip, at the exact same spot. A moment or two later, both male and female emerged from the same slice of air, carrying a table. They set it under a tree, then returned to... wherever they'd been. Over the next several minutes, this repeated, each time new items in tow: Chairs. Tablecloth. Plates, cups, bowls, silverware. A grill, folded out from a very compact case into a large, spotlessly clean appliance with no obvious means of power. A prep-table. A rack of spices. Bags of this, packages and containers of that, bottles... some with writing in English, some with what looked like Chinese characters, some with symbology obviously not of human origin....

Thoee chopped and cut fruits and vegetables both familiar and strange. A bowl of apples on the table. "Steaks" and other meats on the grill. A kettle, water heating for tea... a selection of teas on the table. Cut fruits, lightly chilled by Winter. Veggies, steamed and grilled. Meats, flame-broiled. A special bowl, with a mix of cut-fresh raw meats, a smattering of spices in warm gravy, a sprig of what looked like parsly, and a very small low table to place it on.........

Quick and efficient, male and female Nism worked together to make a hot meal for five...

... a meal those watching couldn't have missed seeing set and ready at the table, even before Thoee and Deen removed their matching aprons, hung them aside, and bowed to their guests.........


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[Gaius]

Devon had been a little distracted by several matters and considerations, and unfortunately for him, or fortunately for his peace of mind perhaps, the issue of going to the bathroom had not been among them. It was the sort of thing he would hardly want to think about, but... Well, he would ultimately have no choice. Even without the pants, doing it as Devon remembered would be another thing that proved tricky with hooves. Once he did realize, the fae-finding expedition would become Objective Number 1.

For now, though, Devon simply watched "the show," which he soon realized was in no way an exaggeration. The disappearances had been impressive enough, but after that... Devon's mouth hung open as the new furry, feathered, scaled friends popped in and out of existence, bringing new things with them and setting a table in record time. To say nothing of the meal preparation itself. He gave Kibaki a look, curious if this sort of thing was common on the new world. "This is... wow..." was as good a job he managed at 'small-talk.' He'd been to restaurants where the chefs prepared your food on a grill in front of you, with lots of theatrical knife and spatula tosses. These places had nothing on the Nism. And the aprons were a nice touch.

Devon wasn't sure if his nose was much better now, but it definitely confirmed what his eyes told him: on the table, there was a delicious meal for all. "This looks fantastic! Thank you both!" he said, offering another awkward bow of his own. He approached a chair nearest the fruits and vegetables; they'd be what he'd mostly stick to, and that didn't look like a bad thing. Devon did look thoughtfully at the meat, though, and wondered if a little bite could really hurt so much. 'I'm still human, just... not as much. Honestly, a few mouthfuls of meat can't be that bad for me.' He had not considered his mouth was a bit bigger than it had been. He managed to pull out the chair with his hooves, but remained standing a moment. Part of it was to make sure everyone else was seated before he dug in, and part of it was to see if the Nism had a pre-meal ritual, as well.

Devon also eyed the silverware. 'Guess I won't be using those.' A frown appeared on his face, then vanished just as quickly, not wanting to offend the two that had worked so hard at the meal. The thoughts of table manners made him realize pretty much the only way for him to eat would be to stick his face into the food. He blushed a little at the thought. It helped that they probably wouldn't judge him for it; nobody had commented on the accidental bray amid laughter, and so would likely be understanding about this, too. His three new friends (and Drifter) came from an entirely different understanding of the world, after all. Still, he'd considered himself polite, and it felt... wrong. Eating face-to-plate was a very animal thing to do. That it was also the practical thing to do in his case carried less weight than it really should have. 'But what's the alternative? Pick up each lettuce leaf with both hooves? ... It might work, but that would take waaaay too long. Guess I'll just have to get used to it.'

On a lighter note, Devon smiled a bit at Drifter's bowl, thinking the parsley-like veggie another nice touch, and began counting aloud the seconds until the wolf came running.

[PridesPrice]

Kibaki's eyes had wandered off in the direction Drifter had gone. He really wasn't concerned about Drifter returning, however he still couldn't help reminding himself the wolf was still young even if it had grown a lot from when he'd first found it. Drift had become a decent hunter but it hadn't had to do any serious fighting. If a predator came along...a really strong one...would Drifter be smart enough to run back here or would he be a bit overly proud and try to fight it. Not that Kibaki would be a lot of help but 2 on 1 is always better than 1 on 1...and with several other people around the numbers might scare a lot of things off.

With his eyes turned elsewhere and his thoughts not as accuratly on his new friends for a moment he missed a good view of the the air pad and pencil that Thoee was using. He saw movement from his periphreal vision but didn't quite realize what they were using to take notes. Kibaki nodded absently to Thoee's question...he'd requested more than enough food as it was.

Kibaki also missed Thoee's hopping off into nothingness, but he did turn around in time to see Deen disapear. His mind shut down practically for a moment as he stared at the location, then as it started running again he carefully considered the disappearance. He also then realized Thoee had also left. His eyes shifted To dev. "Did you see that?" His thoughts were coming very slow as he tried to logically figure out what happened. "I didn't notice a mirror...I heard some can use that to do trick's...it has to be mirrors."

Kibaki watched as they returned the same way, a puzzled glance on his face. Same exact location...yah it had to be mirrors. It made sense...it would be a good reason they were using the same location. Where did all the furniture and food come from? Well, he hadn't walked over there...so maybe it was just hiding behind the mirrors as well. Why had they brought all of that so far? Maybe Thoee had been bringing it over before she appeared while Deen had greeted them. Perhaps thats why they came at seperate times? yes, that could be what happened.

"Nice show before the meal. It was pretty impressive." He moved over to look at the food, noticing how wonderful it smelled.

Drifter was eyeing that rabbit hole and the scared rabbit. He had dug in a decent ways but the rabbit kept pulling farther back into the hole. Was it taunting him. His head turned up smelling the multiple teasing scents. Snorting he looked back towards the rabbit, pawing at the hole with one paw in a more half-hearted manner.
Drifter turned and trotted closer to the group, stopping about 5yards out of sight radius and lay down, ears pricked foward listeniing to the sounds. Sighing he laid his head down as his mind worked on choosing pride over an empty stomach. He could go back to hunting...there was more game out there if he wanted to work at it.

[Roose Hurro]

No, it was not mirrors, not a trick at all.........

Devon really shouldn't have worried so much about manners. Just the fact Thoee and Deen were themselves very animal in look and "feel"... the way they moved with feral grace, wearing nothing they hadn't been born with, not fussy about four legs or two... well, that should have been a clue. A pre-meal ritual? Well, just the preparation alone had been such a ritual, at most they'd give a nod over their plate in thanks to their Creators, then they'd dig in. And the silverware? Yes, Devon's place had all the tools, even though both Thoee and Deen were well aware he couldn't use them. It was all part of the layout... even Drifter's bowl had silverware on both the right and the left, the little table plenty wide enough to hold a formal set. After all, this was a "special" meal, prepared for "special" guests. Three they hadn't met before, all of them hungry in the Winter's lingering cold. They'd served guests anything from fresh fruit and wine to tea and crumpets... and even some hot cocoa. The kind with little marshmallows...?

Both male and female Nism expressed thanks for the complements, and "your welcomes" for the thanks given, each in their own individual styles. Thoee with grace, Deen with a grin....

Thoee made sure Devon had a generous portion of grilled veggies on his plate before she sat. Deen made sure the meat was properly carved and presented. Glasses filled with juice, hot water for tea. The grilled veggies? A mix of the familar from earth, blended with those from several worlds, including their own, blended to both compliment and contrast in flavor and texture... no, not just simple lettuce! Fruit, sliced and whole. Meat, also a mix of familiar and exotic... well, exotic to three of the five present. Mild and strong in flavor. A jar of horsey sauce, shakers of spices. A bit of jam and bread....

With the main table perfect for four, Thoee sat next to Kibaki and Deen sat next to Devon, did their nods of thanks and waved their guests to dig in...

... "If the horseradish sauce is too much, I have some honey mustard... and a few other selections...." A wave over the few jars present on the table... "Feel free to try." Deen speared a bit of dark meat on his plate, using one of his claws, dipped it in his own selection of sauce, and took his first bite of lunch.

Thoee...

... "Devon... Kibaki... tea?"

She held up the small, self-heated kettle, after pouring for herself, not sure if her guests wanted tea, yet ready to pour for them if they did.........


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[Gaius]

Knowing nothing of the youth's background with magic, Devon responded to Kibaki's talk of mirrors with a raised eyebrow and an ear twitch. Alongside this mix of human and animal expression, he pondered. 'Hmm... It seems crazy to think he wouldn't believe in magic, all things considered... Then again, what do I know? Just because creatures of all kinds are common enough doesn't mean magic's going to be everywhere.' A thought struck him. 'Oh. Since he seems so set on the mirrors... Maybe there's a type of magic that uses objects as some sort of totemic focus, and Kibaki knows mirrors could do something like this. Hmm... I can't rule it out. Still, if it is true... They don't exactly have pockets for the mirrors...' "It's... pretty spiffy, whatever it is," he answered, not knowing what else to tell Kibaki.

Forward in time, at the table, Devon gave Thoee a smile and a thank you for the vegetables. He took his seat, being far more mindful of his tail than he'd been on the Fairest's chair. At Deen's mention of sauces, he smiled and explained, "Maybe in a bit. I've always liked seeing how things taste by themselves, first." It was perfectly honest. But, what with the hungry look he kept giving the veggies, he wondered if they'd assume a different reason. To Thoee, Devon waved away the offered tea as politely as he could with a hoof. "Thanks, but I really just wanted some juice. More for everyone else, I guess." He wouldn't have normally been adverse to trying the tea, especially with the cold around, but... Well, with the glass of juice in front of him, he figured he would have enough trouble trying to drink a cool liquid without hands. But that was still to come.

Devon stared down at his plate, piled high with vegetables. With lips closed, he ran his tongue over his teeth again. 'No sense putting it off. Time to break these things in, I guess.' So, embarrassing as it was, even if he was the only one to think so, he put his hooves in his lap, and leaned his mouth down toward the plate. And bumped it. He at least got his muzzle in the middle, but he'd forgotten that his face extended a few inches further than he was used to. He was lucky it wasn't full donkey length, or he'd likely have pushed it along the table. In any case, his flush burned hotter for a moment as he pulled his head up a moment. Then he went down again, opened his mouth, maneuvered his teeth around some leaves and some things that might have been asparagus, and took a bite.

Delicious.

The well-chosen veggies, properly cooked as they were, combined with the literally otherworldly nature of some and compounded by Devon's new senses, made for a delightful flavor he had never known. He simply closed his eyes and lifted his head, not noticing the single leaf that fell back to the plate, and enjoyed chewing the mouthful for a while. He swallowed and gave a contented sigh. He forgot his manners a moment and didn't tell the two Nism how much he enjoyed it. But, as his head went back down to the plate, they probably got the message. Still, in some part of his mind, Civility was mumbling in a corner about the importance of politeness and decorum. It was unheard over the roar of Hunger, delighted beyond words that Devon was now required to bring his mouth straight to the food, cutting out the middleman.

This stopped most of the way through his fourth mouthful, as Devon's ears swiveled, alerting him to a sound, not far off. He recognized the similarities to the sound the wolf had made when he'd left. Swallowing, he smiled. "104 seconds," he mumbled, with a chuckle. He didn't realize he'd still been counting. "I wonder how much longer until Drifter will grace us with his presence." Civility, seizing the opening, received help from an ally to oust Hunger from power. The ally? Unwarranted Guilt. The student-turned-donkey's ears drooped a bit. "Heheh... Sorry, forgot my manners. This is just... the best thing I've had in ages." Devon hoped they would acknowledge this soon so he would be free to resume clearing his plate; to continue the metaphor, Hunger was out of power, but rallying a resistance movement to reclaim its throne.

[PridesPrice]

Kibaki sat down with the group, his mind shifting away from wondering 'how' to simply wondering where to start. The different smells of the food mingled together seemed to only help in making it harder to decide what to eat. Kibaki couldn't remember the last time he'd had this much food to choose from for a meal. Actually, he wasn't sure there had ever been a time with this much diversity in food on a table before him.
Kibaki filled his plate easily with an assortment of meats and fruits with a small portion of veggies.
Spices and sauces were then likewise dusted over different parts of his food. He'd had pretty bland food a lot lately, so anything that added flavoring sounded wonderful. Some back part of his mind still wondered at all they had managed to bring, but those thoughts just couldn't get focused on anymore. A bite of meat before anything else, slowly chewed as he considered the taste of it.

Kibaki nodded at the offer of the tea, at the same time trying one of the colorful pieces of fruit, "That would be great, thanks." Picking up his glass he held it up closer to the kettle she held.

Drifter stayed silent in his hiding spot as the group sat, as he watched Kibaki take a bite of meat. He watched them eating the food, and wondered how much a donkey and a Nism could eat. How much food would be left if he remained hidden? There was a lot of food, but don't most hooved animals eat a lot? Nism's? Not a clue how much they would eat.
The smell of the meat was so strong, he could feel himself starting to salivate more heavily. Standing up he took a few slow steps forward, paused then with a resigned sigh walked out a more normal pace. He didn't look directly at any one person as he appeared. Drift deffinetly didn't eye the food too closely, no he just kept his eyes forward and headed to the table of food. The smell of the meat just got stronger, he could practically taste it even if it wasn't in his mouth yet.

Drifter considered the sitting arrangements and how thoee was next to Kibaki and decided to head towards the opposite side of Kibaki. He'd be aware if Thoee got within cuddling distance and be able to escape better.

[Roose Hurro]

No, Thoee and Deen didn't exactly have pockets.........

Threshhold not only allowed Thoee and Deen to travel anywhere in the Universe, it also provided them with their own "pocket" dimension... a private storeroom, if you will. And they'd not only stocked it before leaving on their WorldWalk, but added to their stash with bits of this and that, gained in their ten plus years of travel. Had either Devon or Kibaki... or even Drifter... been able to enter Threshhold into that pocket, they definitely would have marveled at the things stored there. Everything from rolls of toilet paper (never used), a very large statis box (the "fridge" mentioned earlier), all the way up to a partially disassembled Federation shuttle... not to mention other vehicles, from primative motorscooters to small hypertech spacecraft. Oh, and a quite extensive collection of weaponry, half being various bladed types, from folding pocket knives to odd looking swords and nasty looking axes. Yes, Deen had a thing for blades....

Thoee poured hot water gently and skillfully into Kibaki's cup. She then made sure all the teas were within his reach, before she sat and started eating, herself. She couldn't help watching Devon's efforts for a bit between her own bites, before a thought occured, a smile lit on her face. And so, while Devon's attention was locked on his plate for a fourth mouthful, she slipped a straw into his juice.

Deen?

He'd also noted Devon's table manners. Of course, he'd also been using his claws to snag bites. Not that he didn't know how to properly use a fork, but this meal's use of sliced meat and veggies lent itself to a "finger food" play. For the enjoyment factor. And also, to make Devon more comfortable with his own limited means of tool use. So long as the meal was enjoyed, the method used to eat it didn't really matter. Deen had, himself, quite often enjoyed licking his plate or bowl, an act even his mate had been guilty of. On many occasions.

When in Rome...

... or so the saying goes.

And Drifter?

Well! About time... though Winter and snow still lay over the Forest, this small, low and separate little table set up for the wolfpup came equiped not only with silverware, but a heated bowl. So, the raw warmed meat and hot gravy hadn't gotten cold. It had also been set up next to Kibaki's seat, opposite where Thoee sat... right off the table's corner, between Kibaki and Devon.

Kibaki... and Devon?

Other than his "thanks", nothing, but the horned boy made good on the thanks, by diving right in to his meal. Devon... well, the donkey in bluejeans mumble-chuckled time, commented about Drifter, drooped ears and apologized for his table manners. Then gave a compliment that made Thoee feel warm inside, and Deen grin...

... so, ears laid back and body leaned forwards, as if to whisper, Deen commented...

... "Don't worry about it... the tablecloth is stainproof...."

Grin, and a chuckle of his own, as his tail whipped about and the tip patted Devon on the shoulder.

Thoee's tail?

Hers whipped up, waved tuft in the air behind her chair, as she dipped her head in a display of good grace...

... "Never apologize for hunger, Young Devon. Good food transcends all propriety... everything pleasurable is worth enjoying, without embarrassment. Or guilt."

Ohhh... if only Devon knew.........!


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[Gaius]

It was probably for the best that Devon was so focused on the meal to notice the Nism watching him eat. Despite all their best intentions, it would have made him even more self-conscious. He always tended to be in unfamiliar situations and... Well, it didn't get much less familiar than sharing a feast at the edge of a wintry forest with a horned youth and two creatures from beyond the stars as he tried to get used to a body that was now mostly made out of donkey. It was also the reason for all the "Sorry"s he'd been throwing around. 'It's probably just a matter of time before I apologize for all the apologies.' He hated doing that.

Devon listened to Deen's reassurance -- glad he resisted the impulse to shy away from the tail's shoulder pat -- and answered with a small smile, and a "Ah, good to know," as his ears ceased their drooping. As for Thoee's little admonishment, he gave a more bashful smile and rubbed the back of his head with a hoof again. "Of course. Sorr--" He stopped himself. "Yes, you're probably right. Just the way I was raised, I guess." He then thought about... whatever she'd meant by the waving tail. Devon had heard that over half of communication was non-verbal. So, while he thought time with cats and dogs gave him a decent understanding of most of the Nism's body language, as well as reasons for his own involuntary moves, he was curious what part of the message he'd missed in Thoee's more... deliberate gesture.

As Devon was about to go for another bite, he noticed the new straw. "Oh, thanks. That was thoughtful." He wasn't sure how he'd planned to drink his juice without one, and, as telegraphed through another unwanted swish of his tail, was relieved he didn't have to ask. It also made him realize how thirsty he was. He started to reach for the glass, but stopped the hoof before it reached table height. 'Stain-proof tablecloth or not, that would be a little too big a mess.' So, extending his neck more cautiously than when he'd gone for his plate, he got the straw into his mouth and enjoyed. Devon thought it might be odd to go from the taste of veggies to what looked a more citrus flavor. But, while it was certainly a unique transition, it was refreshing, and sweeter than he'd expected. He shivered at the chill it carried with it. "Mmm..." Drawing his head back, he meant to lick his lips, but didn't seem too bothered that he wound up licking his chops instead. He kept himself from apologizing for it, at any rate.

Devon thought some mealtime conversation would be nice, but nothing came to mind. And, what with the decidedly shorter but no less tantalizing meal in front of him, he saw no harm in another nibble or two while he thought of something to say. So, with as much decorum as he could, now that he'd got the hang of it, he went back to clearing a swath through the jungle on his plate. He hoped Kibaki was enjoying the food and drink as much as he was. And that Drifter would eventually partake, as well.

[hawkfangor]

((OoC: Accepted))

[Gaius]

*bump*

Close, but no cigar, Reaper. Despite any appearances to the contrary, donkey boy's not going anywhere.

[Gaius]

Swing and a miss, Reaper. Devon's still alive and kicking.

"... I hate you so much."