Werewolves (RP14.3) Guardians of the Archway
Quote from Cat on November 15, 2021, 10:08 pmToby was truly fascinated by Zander's sudden claim of at least some education, and the fact that he had continued to practice despite being a drop-out wasn't half bad either. Toby was just getting ready to have a real conversation about the joys of scientific discovery when Zander pushed the paper toward him.
"Nonsense!" Toby said reproachfully, "You've been here long enough, had every possible chance to escape Granny but didn't, and are one of the few wolves I've met in my lifetime who hasn't tried to kill me yet." He hesitated a little before continuing, "I-.. I never knew my parents either. My mom died when I was born and my Pop disappeared with my uncle shortly afterward. You're like one of the family, Zander." Carefully, he returned the paper and graphite back to Zander. "Please, I insist."
Toby was truly fascinated by Zander's sudden claim of at least some education, and the fact that he had continued to practice despite being a drop-out wasn't half bad either. Toby was just getting ready to have a real conversation about the joys of scientific discovery when Zander pushed the paper toward him.
"Nonsense!" Toby said reproachfully, "You've been here long enough, had every possible chance to escape Granny but didn't, and are one of the few wolves I've met in my lifetime who hasn't tried to kill me yet." He hesitated a little before continuing, "I-.. I never knew my parents either. My mom died when I was born and my Pop disappeared with my uncle shortly afterward. You're like one of the family, Zander." Carefully, he returned the paper and graphite back to Zander. "Please, I insist."
Quote from Indy on November 15, 2021, 10:14 pmZander took the pencil and paper, momentarily at a loss of words. He starred at both in hand as the words sank in.
"I'm not sure what to say... Other than it sounds like your luck with other werewolves has been nearly as good as mine," he subconsciously brushed against the thin, white scars along his forearm.
He glanced upwards, smiling softly, "We'll do it together. I think it'd make sense to take two etchings anyways, just in case one of us makes a mistake somewhere".
With careful, methodical ease, he began to take the first etching - rolling the bison horn a few paces over on the page once he ran out of available surface and proceeding along the length of the page until the entire circumference had been completed. He then passed a fresh sheet and pencil along to Toby to do likewise.
Zander took the pencil and paper, momentarily at a loss of words. He starred at both in hand as the words sank in.
"I'm not sure what to say... Other than it sounds like your luck with other werewolves has been nearly as good as mine," he subconsciously brushed against the thin, white scars along his forearm.
He glanced upwards, smiling softly, "We'll do it together. I think it'd make sense to take two etchings anyways, just in case one of us makes a mistake somewhere".
With careful, methodical ease, he began to take the first etching - rolling the bison horn a few paces over on the page once he ran out of available surface and proceeding along the length of the page until the entire circumference had been completed. He then passed a fresh sheet and pencil along to Toby to do likewise.
Quote from Cat on November 15, 2021, 10:30 pmToby smiled in return. His eyes sparkled as he watched Zander work, mentally soaking in every action. When the pencil and sheet were offered, he took them and carefully recreated the motions he had observed in Zander. Soon enough, they had two etchings. Toby beamed. Why, this was only the beginning! They were a couple of self-proclaimed anthropologists now, teammates on the road to ancient knowledge. After this, they would be friends forever. The two of them would return to college together and get degrees in anthropology. Then they'd travel the world again, uncovering even more secrets! They would become a famous pair of geniuses, desperately sought after by universities for their knowledge, but alas, never tied down. Everyday new adventures! Everyday new discoveries!
Quite suddenly, Toby felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise. He became aware of a dreadfully familiar presence standing behind them. It made his heart stop and his blood freeze. Slowly, reluctantly, Toby turned. He would've been happier to see a Svalnaglas in a hockey mask with a meat hook rather than his own grandmother just then, but there she stood; a little bulldog of a woman with tight wrinkled lips and big eyes. It took everything he had not to wail in despair and fall to the floor.
"So whose idea was it?" She asked gruffly, "..To check inside the flower pot. Whose idea was it?"
Toby smiled in return. His eyes sparkled as he watched Zander work, mentally soaking in every action. When the pencil and sheet were offered, he took them and carefully recreated the motions he had observed in Zander. Soon enough, they had two etchings. Toby beamed. Why, this was only the beginning! They were a couple of self-proclaimed anthropologists now, teammates on the road to ancient knowledge. After this, they would be friends forever. The two of them would return to college together and get degrees in anthropology. Then they'd travel the world again, uncovering even more secrets! They would become a famous pair of geniuses, desperately sought after by universities for their knowledge, but alas, never tied down. Everyday new adventures! Everyday new discoveries!
Quite suddenly, Toby felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise. He became aware of a dreadfully familiar presence standing behind them. It made his heart stop and his blood freeze. Slowly, reluctantly, Toby turned. He would've been happier to see a Svalnaglas in a hockey mask with a meat hook rather than his own grandmother just then, but there she stood; a little bulldog of a woman with tight wrinkled lips and big eyes. It took everything he had not to wail in despair and fall to the floor.
"So whose idea was it?" She asked gruffly, "..To check inside the flower pot. Whose idea was it?"
Quote from Indy on November 15, 2021, 10:38 pmDespite only working at the antique store for a few months, Zander had acquired a sixth sense where his supervisor was concerned. It was always a niggling sort of feeling, a sense of unease, a sense of accusation in spite of every letter of the law being upheld.
And, well, it was only a matter of time before the old woman had caught them red-handed. Yet rather than fleeing the scene of the crime like someone had set his hair on fire, Zander instead maintained an unsettling ease about the situation.
"I would call it a mutual collaboration, Mrs. Buttermilk," Zander replied mildly, "We'll be done soon and clean everything up just as you remembered it".
Despite only working at the antique store for a few months, Zander had acquired a sixth sense where his supervisor was concerned. It was always a niggling sort of feeling, a sense of unease, a sense of accusation in spite of every letter of the law being upheld.
And, well, it was only a matter of time before the old woman had caught them red-handed. Yet rather than fleeing the scene of the crime like someone had set his hair on fire, Zander instead maintained an unsettling ease about the situation.
"I would call it a mutual collaboration, Mrs. Buttermilk," Zander replied mildly, "We'll be done soon and clean everything up just as you remembered it".
Quote from Cat on November 15, 2021, 10:48 pmToby's eyes nearly exploded out of his head as he glanced frantically at Zander. So blunt.. So brave... SUCH an idiot!! No! He had to save him. "It was me! All me! I twisted his arm at gunpoint!" Toby exclaimed, yet instantly bit his lower lip in awkward embarrassment upon finishing. Even he didn't believe him.
To his surprise, Granny didn't lunge at them, ready to strike them over the heads with her cane. Instead, she merely hummed in her throat. "Well.. If you two have finally started to develop the guts given a lemon, I s'pose it's time you knew the truth." She muttered, turning from them and hobbling over to her chair. Toby watched her in stun silence, unable to comprehend what he had just heard. "Come're boys, 'n let an old lady share a story with ya.."
Toby's eyes nearly exploded out of his head as he glanced frantically at Zander. So blunt.. So brave... SUCH an idiot!! No! He had to save him. "It was me! All me! I twisted his arm at gunpoint!" Toby exclaimed, yet instantly bit his lower lip in awkward embarrassment upon finishing. Even he didn't believe him.
To his surprise, Granny didn't lunge at them, ready to strike them over the heads with her cane. Instead, she merely hummed in her throat. "Well.. If you two have finally started to develop the guts given a lemon, I s'pose it's time you knew the truth." She muttered, turning from them and hobbling over to her chair. Toby watched her in stun silence, unable to comprehend what he had just heard. "Come're boys, 'n let an old lady share a story with ya.."
Quote from Indy on November 16, 2021, 6:48 pm"We would be honored if you would share it with us," Zander said quietly, surprising even himself with the confidence in his voice.
He took his own etching and sat at the same table, starring at the strange runes as though the old woman's story would bring to life the mysteries contained within the bison horn and the wolves buried at the graveyard. He sighed. Something was missing - but what?
Suddenly the missing puzzle piece clicked into place, "Should I get some tea started?".
"We would be honored if you would share it with us," Zander said quietly, surprising even himself with the confidence in his voice.
He took his own etching and sat at the same table, starring at the strange runes as though the old woman's story would bring to life the mysteries contained within the bison horn and the wolves buried at the graveyard. He sighed. Something was missing - but what?
Suddenly the missing puzzle piece clicked into place, "Should I get some tea started?".
