Foxside: The Temple of Inari 55 - So many ships, you'd think it was on the ocean

[deleteman900]

[Pokemohn Gym]

Jian nods, but the others make their excuses and head off - rapidly leaving only Jian, Genji, and Squee. Squee seems ready to eat again.

Food! Yes! Good!

Genji laughs, crouching down to offer Squee another treat before trying to pick him up, "Let's go get some... breakfast? Dinner?" He tries to judge what time of day it is roughly while wondering if the cafe even serves pokemon food, "Hopefully they've got something nice to eat there, what kind of stuff do you eat, Squee?" He asks the little one, hopefully holding him closer so that Jian can pet him if she wants~

*They begin the short walk to the cafe during this conversation*

[Fenric]

[To the Cafeteria]

Looks like dinnertime, really.

Squee wiggles at first, but settles down quickly

Squee eat food, too! Chicken, ham, good! I like...

but then they cross the edge of the yard and leave the translation area

Eevee ee eev Vee Eevee

Jian giggles and pets the little tan guy

He is cute.

[Recaiden]

"Huger than we expected, even after seeing it from the outside."

Plum frowns. Are they that predictable, or is the cerebrate reading their mind? Both, perhaps. It's right, of course. There aren't too many much like them, and half of them Atorre created in the first place. Perhaps distributed compared to centralized thinking isn't such a big deal. On the plus side, a bundle of jelly-crabs is coming to move them or the shuttle around and that's just fun.

You are not incorrect. My excitement mirrors your own interest, but we have more reasons for caution than yourself, wouldn't you agree? What is intended for the fox-folk aboard?

[deleteman900]

[To the Cafeteria]

Looks like dinnertime, really.

Squee wiggles at first, but settles down quickly

Squee eat food, too! Chicken, ham, good! I like...

but then they cross the edge of the yard and leave the translation area

Eevee ee eev Vee Eevee

Jian giggles and pets the little tan guy

He is cute.

"Heh... he really is, isn't he? I've taken quite a shine to him, and I think that I'd like to get to know more about these pokemon, maybe even have a couple of my own in case we run into tall, dark, and spooky or one of his buddies again... It took just about everything I could think of to fight him off in that cave... Still, I reckon the acolytes running the cafe can probably take care of making sure he doesn't eat anything he's not supposed to~" He smiles softly, happy to be back in the calm, peaceful Temple.

Genji gets a few scritches in, but mostly lets Jian take care of the petting since she seems to enjoy it, content to just hold the little ball of happy fur as they make their way there, finally arriving and offering to let Jian hold Squee so that he can open the door for his fellows~

[Fenric]

[To the Moon!]

Krystal nods and watches as the overlords come and each uses one their tentacles to grab the shuttle. They then proceed to pull the disabled craft deeper inside.

While impressive, their abilities are chaotic and ultimately of vastly less worth than what we already command: we have rejected them for inclusion into the swarm. And while revered, Krystal is no longer in the werefox chain of command and is useless as a hostage. The others are of no concern to me at all. But collectively, they may help encourage you to remain polite and so I leave them with you. For now.

A chuckle

I do not estimate your abilities so lightly: should we fight, it is likely this entire swarm will meet its end. No, I wish to see if a trade arrangement can be made. There is something from the elder days of Town still in the Nexus: a being of considerable psionic ability if limited wisdom.

---

[Cafeteria]

Jian grins saucily

Wanna know more about Pokemon, eh? Then you'll just have to start coming to gym class!
And you're right: somehow I doubt all these clerics will have too much trouble with some ghosty powered thing, however scary it might be to folks without magic.

Arriving at the cafeteria, it's the same as it ever was. Jian gets a plate of sautéed chicken and steamed veggies, with some extra chicken for Squee.

He seems to like us. We don't really get to "keep" him, I don't think, but as far as I know they're free to wander around if they want.

[deleteman900]

[Cafeteria]

Jian grins saucily

Wanna know more about Pokemon, eh? Then you'll just have to start coming to gym class!
And you're right: somehow I doubt all these clerics will have too much trouble with some ghosty powered thing, however scary it might be to folks without magic.

Arriving at the cafeteria, it's the same as it ever was. Jian gets a plate of sautéed chicken and steamed veggies, with some extra chicken for Squee.

He seems to like us. We don't really get to "keep" him, I don't think, but as far as I know they're free to wander around if they want.

"That's a shame, the little guy's got pluck~" Genji watches him begin to tear into the chicken as soon as he gets it and takes his own plate with an extra-rare steak that has a light brown sauce to enhance the natural flavor of the meat~ "I think that I'd quite like to be in your gym class, dear~ Getting the blood pumping, and then cooling down afterwards with the cutest vixen I know? That sounds like quite the treat to me..." He slices off a piece of his steak and offers it to the Eevee before beginning to eat the rest of it with liberal helpings of mashed potatoes and cornbread, along with various veggies like corn, peas, and carrots~ "The Chandelure didn't seem evil per se, just hungry. It's just a shame that we're on its menu, hehe~"

[Recaiden]

Wheee!
Plum watches the surroundings as they're carried away.

"We're talking to them; I don't know if you have been contacted. Seems like they have done their research."

Such death would be inconvenient to us all.
Maybe the cerebrate is focusing too much on the military side of things and underestimating Krystal's value. Maybe not.
And you want this being to be brought here. We will consider it when we know more.
Take item X from universe Y to universe W through world Z, then bring item V back to... the only question is how many things have to change hands before it stops.

[Fenric]

[To the Moon!]

Krystal shakes her head

No... I haven't heard anything.

The shuttle is slowly towed over to a platform of sorts, where it is subsequently secured.

We want the psionic imprint of the fool that called himself Anakanzilluninzar. We understand that it currently resides in one of the current residents of the Temple of Inari back in the Nexus. The werefoxes have long since forgotten of his existence, as Fenric rarely discussed his oldest enemy and since his death the story has been lost to them... but the swarm never forgets.

---

[Cafeteria]

Jian gives Genji a wink and says nothing for a short while, focusing instead on eating.

No, I don't think it's evil - like you said: anything that sees you as a snack isn't exactly going to be your first choice to hang around. But I'm sure Mr. Zack will get something for it before it comes knocking.

[deleteman900]

[Cafeteria]

Jian gives Genji a wink and says nothing for a short while, focusing instead on eating.

No, I don't think it's evil - like you said: anything that sees you as a snack isn't exactly going to be your first choice to hang around. But I'm sure Mr. Zack will get something for it before it comes knocking.

Genji munches on his food in peace, finishing relatively quickly given that he'd been sneaking Squee some of his meat when Jian wasn't looking~ "Yeah, I'm sure he'll be fine. They wouldn't put him in charge unless he knew what he was doing, right?" He sets his eating implements down on his plate and offers her a smile, not realizing that he has a bit of mashed potato smudged on his cheek... "It's so weird to have been in that place for a day or two, and come out here to realize it's barely been a few hours..." He observes, trying to further their small-talk.

[Recaiden]

He was on the short list of probable targets.

"They want me to get something from the Nexus for them. You're a hostage. There's a couple of meetings lined up; I think we should hear them out." "I know, it's a bad idea to trust them even an inch. We'll probably be brainwashed or tricked out of their side of the deal. But our curiosity has always gotten the better of us.

We are familiar with the one you speak of, although we expected him to have been moved to the mountains across the great desert. We have no objection to acquiring him, but are you sure that interacting with him is wise?
Plum chuckles; the chain of deals idea was supposed to be a joke.

[Fenric]

[Cafeteria]

Jian nods

And it's not like other people don't keep those sorts of things as... uh...

she tilts her head

They're not really pets, are they? And that whole gladiator-style battle thing they do - ugh. I get it, some of them apparently need that for their proper development, but I'm with Lady Caroline: I don't like it being organized like a sport with people paying for admission and betting on it and everything... it just seems wrong.

Then she grins

But you can do that yourself, once you've learned how! Time between the mortal world and the fox world is almost completely flexible, remember? At least, for us it is... for guests it can get tricky. But you could quite literally be there for centuries and then step back here only a moment after you left.

It's not actually that easy even for full-blooded kitsune, to be honest, but she doesn't know that.

---

[To the Moon!]

Krystal pulls a face

Ugh... trust a nasty slimy cerebrate to have plans. Hopefully the folks outside notice he's here and don't waste their time attacking: we don't have the equipment to take one down. And of course, whatever it is they want will just make their whole swarm more powerful, which is just what we need.

There is a mental chuckle

Ah... but if I can gain enough of an upper hand, I will return to Korpulu to bid for the overlordship of all Zerg rather than stay here. Why should I remain in some backwards system on the fringes of nowhere?

[Recaiden]

Ri pulls a silly face in response.

"What do they have to do but plan?"
"He says he wants to gather enough to leave and go take over back home, which matches what we understand of them, although it is unusually ambitious."

But what if you only gain a slight advantage? Your interests might turn to this planet or even the nexus. Besides, I would not expect you to leave even a potential foe at your back.
Are they supposed to get out of the shuttle now? Plum was waiting for something to approach, an escort or guard.
So what is the other end of the bargain?

[Deathkeeper]

[Tour]

Kitnick grins

You're welcome!

Then he nods

Yeah, it's that time again! Any plans?

"Uh, no, not really. Why, got any ideas?" asks Sam, adjusting his vest a bit.

[deleteman900]

[Cafeteria]

Jian nods

And it's not like other people don't keep those sorts of things as... uh...

she tilts her head

They're not really pets, are they? And that whole gladiator-style battle thing they do - ugh. I get it, some of them apparently need that for their proper development, but I'm with Lady Caroline: I don't like it being organized like a sport with people paying for admission and betting on it and everything... it just seems wrong.

Then she grins

But you can do that yourself, once you've learned how! Time between the mortal world and the fox world is almost completely flexible, remember? At least, for us it is... for guests it can get tricky. But you could quite literally be there for centuries and then step back here only a moment after you left.

It's not actually that easy even for full-blooded kitsune, to be honest, but she doesn't know that.

---

Genji nods, "I know what you mean, but at the same time they themselves seem to be fine with it..." He looks at Squee curiously, scritching between the little guys sensitive ears gently. "I think that paying to see them fight is a bit too much though..." He shrugs, stifling a yawn out of respect for the vixen. "After getting some good food in me, I'd be happy to just rest though, to tell the truth!" he smiles at Jian, "Though I'm a bit spooked from the whole mirror-dimension thing... you don't mind sleeping with me to help comfort me, do you?" He grins and pokes his tongue out a bit in a teasing fashion, clearly showing that he's just messing around. "If I've got you by my side, I don't doubt that I'll sleep quite well~"

He seems to ignore her mention of the differences in time flow for now, more concerned with getting some shuteye in the here and now... perhaps he'll be more receptive to discussing it when he's not exhausted from fending off the Nega-versions of each of his party-mates?

[Fenric]

[To the Moon!]

Krystal chuckles and shakes her head

Ok, you got me: that is like their sole purpose for existing. And you gotta grant him that much: he held on even though the Overmind got killed - most of them didn't.

In show of good faith, I will admit my ignorance: I do not actually know what you could use in return. I rather strongly suspect you know more of us than we do of you: what would you ask of the Swarm?

Ah... and I gather your craft is better soundproofed than I anticipated: my brood mother is knocking at the exterior hatch. It is time to come out of your cracked shell.

Nope, there's no knocking sound at all.

---

[Tour]

Kitnick shakes his head

No, not really.... nothing special, at any rate. Just the main cafeteria: but it's good and cheap, which is not a bad combination.

---

[Cafeteria]

Jian catches the stifled yawn though, and fails at stifling it: even squeaking in best canine fashion.

Sleep sounds great.

another yawn, and she returns the teasing in fine form.

Ugh... look what you did...

But you have to decide: do you want to get expelled for bringing a girl to your room, or do you want my Aunt to neuter you with a butter knife?

then a wink

But I won't be in heat forever.

[Deathkeeper]

Tour

Sam grins, little white tusks showing.
"Well, I could go there. You can point out any of the big names you were telling me about." he says. He doesn't really gossip but it is kind of funny listening to the gardener talk about these things.

[deleteman900]

[To the Moon!]

Krystal chuckles and shakes her head

Ok, you got me: that is like their sole purpose for existing. And you gotta grant him that much: he held on even though the Overmind got killed - most of them didn't.

In show of good faith, I will admit my ignorance: I do not actually know what you could use in return. I rather strongly suspect you know more of us than we do of you: what would you ask of the Swarm?

Ah... and I gather your craft is better soundproofed than I anticipated: my brood mother is knocking at the exterior hatch. It is time to come out of your cracked shell.

Nope, there's no knocking sound at all.

---

[Tour]

Kitnick shakes his head

No, not really.... nothing special, at any rate. Just the main cafeteria: but it's good and cheap, which is not a bad combination.

---

[Cafeteria]

Jian catches the stifled yawn though, and fails at stifling it: even squeaking in best canine fashion.

Sleep sounds great.

another yawn, and she returns the teasing in fine form.

Ugh... look what you did...

But you have to decide: do you want to get expelled for bringing a girl to your room, or do you want my Aunt to neuter you with a butter knife?

then a wink

But I won't be in heat forever.

Genji stands, and not trusting his words, SPRINTS their dishes over to the dirty-dish intake point for the cafeteria and then back to her! He almost makes it over just fine, but even with his nearly supernatural kitsune grace he still ends up tripping and falling flat on his face in his haste to get back, skidding to a stop face-down in front of her, hehe...

"Not much p-privacy back at the dorms, I think I'll risk the butter knife to see you home safely~" He muffledly squeaks, tail practically twitching with nervous, excited energy as he begins working to regain his footing, blushing heartily as he gets quite the eyeful of bare, smooth calves leading up, up, and up... before finally disappearing underneath that damnably teasing dress she'd been wearing since the picnic~ He squeaked softly and finished standing very carefully, "Butter knife it is, yes ma'am!" He nods vigorously, almost 100% sure there was no way Jian's aunt could possibly catch him~ :P

[Fenric]

[Tour]

Kitnick nods

Ok! Come on!

And he leads the way back to the guest quarters and the main cafeteria. It's already pretty busy and the line for the food counters is a bit long. Kitnick looks around

Now... let's see who we've got... not going to see any of the clerics or healers, of course: they eat in their own respective cafeterias...

Oooh! Over there!

He points in best small-child fashion at a vixen. She's dressed in brown overalls much like what Kitnick himself is wearing... and strongly gives the impression that she's not wearing anything else. It's hard to ever discuss that particular variety of garment as "daringly cut"... but her's certainly is: showing off more than a little of her fluffy white chest fur and her red back fur all the way down to her tail. She's a little heavier set that most of the generally slender Vulpans, with dark red-brown that shows a lot of time out in the sun.

Katrina: the second assistant head gardener, Temple marketing director, and leader of the Temple single's groups. She's my boss!

---

[Cafeteria]

Jian stops Genji and tries to give him a warm hug

No, sweetie: I'm teasing you. Still in heat for a couple more days, and I still don't want kits just yet: it's just not time.

She tries to catch his eyes

Not that there isn't part of me yelling pretty loudly that I'd like to have yours.

[Deathkeeper]

Tour

Most of the details are lost on Sam. He's really not sure what clothing conventions are on furry folk (which even he knows is a little ironic) so he can only assume that's a little risque.
[COLOR="#DDA0DD"]"Ok. Does that mean the first assistant and the actual head gardener are here somewhere?"[/COLOR he asks.

[deleteman900]

[Cafeteria]

Jian stops Genji and tries to give him a warm hug

No, sweetie: I'm teasing you. Still in heat for a couple more days, and I still don't want kits just yet: it's just not time.

She tries to catch his eyes

Not that there isn't part of me yelling pretty loudly that I'd like to have yours.

Genji is all too happy to hug back, drawing her into a fairly deep kiss, not quite as chaste as their last one, :P Being thoroughly worked up by now, and probably proving her suspicions correct, one arms strays testingly below her waist, while the other remains firmly in the safe zone, pulling her flush against his body and deeper into the kiss before finally breaking it to whisper into her ear... "I want to be yours, but only when you're ready..."

The fox gives her a soft nuzzle and seems to be quite thoroughly enjoying their hug and the kiss, which is pretty obvious to the vixen~ "Someday, I hope that all of you wants me that much, but it's something to strive for, yes..?" he smiles toothily, before catching her in a second kiss~

[Recaiden]

"That is impressive. And it tells me something about the timeline. Plum is going to go now to meet them. We'll keep you informed."

The fault of the insulation, I believe.
Plum unbuckles herself and heads for the hatch.
You are rather more renowned than little us. The khydarin crystals of the Xel'naga would be well prized, and the genetic code of the swarm surely contains many useful characteristics that we could adapt to lesser creatures.
Get through the airlock, open the hatch, wave hello!

[Fenric]

[To the Moon!]

Krystal nods

No sense tempting fate...

One of the crew enters

My Lady: the Merant's Revenge has arrived, and is standing off approximately twenty thousand kilometers. We are confirmed to be aboard a Leviathan-class Zerg carrier, and they have positive confirmation of Cerebrate psionic traces in the area... though they report the usual difficulty in pinpointing the location. They have not been attacked as yet.

Krystal nods

Yeah: no news there. We've got a representative going out to meet with the Zerg... looks like they might actually want something other than us for a change.

The outer door opens and Plum comes to face the odd spider-mantis hybrid that is a brood queen.

Greetings from the Swarm of Nazash.

---

[Cafeteria]

Jian welcomes the attention and snuggles, and giggles

Oooh, naughty boy: I should make you wait a century just for that straying hand there.

She returns the kiss, but

Oi! Get a room, you two!

and a more practical

That's probably about enough there, kids: it's time for you to be getting to your respective homes.

reminds the pair that not only are they not alone, but this is a temple full of adults with quite a bit of experience preventing unwanted kits.

---

[Cafeteria - 2]

Kitnick looks around

Don't see 'em... granted, I've only met the head gardener once and I wouldn't swear I'd recognize her. The assistant is a great tall red vixen, but she doesn't usually eat lunch here that I know: she always takes her lunch and eats out in the field.

[Recaiden]

Plum nods to the monstrous alien.

"Greetings. I look forward to seeing what you have to show us."

"A new-queen is outside, just as they said. Are you familiar with what they want? The defiler Anakanzilluninzar?"

[Deathkeeper]

Cafeteria

"Well, that's fine. You can't know everyone you work for in a place like this. Me, I know everyone but that's because I rub elbows with 'em all day. Even the waiters, who aren't as snooty as you'd expect from a fancy place." Sam admits, getting something from the place and ignoring any and all staring he receives.

[deleteman900]

[B][Cafeteria]

Jian welcomes the attention and snuggles, and giggles

Oooh, naughty boy: I should make you wait a century just for that straying hand there.

She returns the kiss, but

Oi! Get a room, you two!

and a more practical

That's probably about enough there, kids: it's time for you to be getting to your respective homes.

reminds the pair that not only are they not alone, but this is a temple full of adults with quite a bit of experience preventing unwanted kits.

---

The moment is thoroughly spoiled, and Genji looses a surprised yip at such a moment being so thoroughly ruined, blushing heartily at Jian as he reluctantly backs off, "Heh... Those do seem to be the options, Ji... S-see you tomorrow?" He offers with a light blush, remembering that she didn't seem to want to get up to any kind of shenanigans, teasing aside. He was pretty sure that her aunt WOULD have him for breakfast in the not-fun sense if he tried something, so maybe it was better to just let it go for now...? Surely that's the correct choice, yes? Uggh, stupid hormones were making this devilishly hard, and he could feel himself starting to inch towards her again, restlessly...

[Fenric]

[To the Moon!]

Krystal's eyes go wide

That guy? Ok... you see, there's a Dark Sun based realm in Ravenloft, run by a full on Dragon. This guy was one of their lackeys, and was hired by the Lich who was our Domain Lord to hunt down Dad after we escaped from Ravenloft to Town. A bunch of Townfolk took him down in a usual epic battle. Not sure how much good negotiating for someone who was killed nearly eleven years ago is going to do.

---

[Cafetera - 2]

Kitnick grins

That must be nice! I know the gardeners over in our section, and some of the clerics, and a good many other people... but this Temple has lots more people than our original Home and the Akarthi village put together! It's amazing.

---

[Cafeteria]

Jian's ears are folded flat in mortified embarrassment

That's my MATH TEACHER

But still she looks at Geni with reluctance to part

Yeah... I'll see you tomorrow...

She starts to head off, but pauses briefly at the door

Love you.

Then she flashes down to a fox and vanishes into the night.

[deleteman900]

[To the Moon!]

Krystal's eyes go wide

That guy? Ok... you see, there's a Dark Sun based realm in Ravenloft, run by a full on Dragon. This guy was one of their lackeys, and was hired by the Lich who was our Domain Lord to hunt down Dad after we escaped from Ravenloft to Town. A bunch of Townfolk took him down in a usual epic battle. Not sure how much good negotiating for someone who was killed nearly eleven years ago is going to do.

---

[Cafetera - 2]

Kitnick grins

That must be nice! I know the gardeners over in our section, and some of the clerics, and a good many other people... but this Temple has lots more people than our original Home and the Akarthi village put together! It's amazing.

---

[Cafeteria]

Jian's ears are folded flat in mortified embarrassment

That's my MATH TEACHER

But still she looks at Geni with reluctance to part

Yeah... I'll see you tomorrow...

She starts to head off, but pauses briefly at the door

Love you.

Then she flashes down to a fox and vanishes into the night.

Genji finally notices that... by golly, that IS Mister Katsuo! He turns and tilts his head in acknowledgement, inching over in shame to sit at the table with him, "Uggh, I bet you think I'm such a fool..." Genji begins, seeking some advice from the more experienced kitsune, and not really sure how to actually go about doing so, even as his tail swishing in happiness that apparently he's done something right...

[Deathkeeper]

Cafeteria 2

"It's nice as long as you don't mind standing. I have to stand pretty much non-stop for my 12-hour shifts all week, and I can't help but travel when I have off because I can't sit still. I think my legs are going to give out one of these days." Sam bemoans as they look for a table.

[Recaiden]

Ri laughs.
"He hasn't stayed dead."
"I think that the relics of the elves have given him complete, unconditional immortality. Certainly no weapons we have are capable of it."
"He can at least be contained. Probably. I never had complete confidence in the celestials."
A frown.
"It's actually quite a difficult thing to ask for. Apart from the wizardry, he can possess our minions and turn them against each other, and could probably best all of us together in a direct psionic battle."

Plum will follow the brood queen, part fascinated and part disgusted by this place-ship-creature.

[Fenric]

Cafeteria 2

Kitnick grins and shrugs

I'm on my feet most of the day every day, when I'm not on my knees. I really don't get the appeal of travel myself, but there are enough people who seem to love it that I'm not going to question.

---

[To the Moon!]

The brood mother leads plum through winding passages and to a fairly comfortable if disturbingly overly organic room. The color is more muted here, grays and greens as opposed to the firey oranges and yellows that most of the place has. The brood mother gestures to a seat.

Please do relax. I cannot make use of those items, but many can and appreciate it.

Many? Huh...
Krystal groans

That's terrible. And I know what you mean: being proficient in both the chaos of magic and the order of psionics is a pretty rare thing... and not just proficient: they're totally amazing... and flat-out dreadful.

she looks out the nearest window

I dunno... that whole "immortal" thing is pain: we can't kill the Cerebrates, either. Not without a Dark Templar.

---

[Cafeteria]

The Natural Magic professor chuckles

How is that foolish? The continued existence of our species rather depends on it, after all, and you are hardly the only one around with that though. If it's any assurance at all, you're the only one to get quite so close to her: one of your classmates has a well-deserved swollen left eye this evening.