On mun's vacation plans

[creature_conundrum]

So it's true? It's goin' on ahead then?

Grrrreat! See mun, you didn't have a thing to worry about! -Oh come on, you talked to the big kahuna at th' job today, your days off are secure. Stop frettin'!

I know you, oh yes I do. You're not gonna believe it's happening 'till you're on your way. Me, I'm going to get a little excited! And hey, who knows. Maybe you'll get answers to all those big questions you've got.

Now, when you see 'em, can you tell them their old buddy said hi? That'd be just great, munny, thanks!

Comments

[venussoldier]

...

[Just gonna...staaaaaaare a little bit, don't mind her.]

[creature_conundrum]

[He stares back a moment, then snickers.]

I know, I know. I am quite the sight to see~

[venussoldier]

O-oh sorry...it's not that, actually...

[Okay so a talking...lizard thing was pretty strange. But still not the weirdest thing she'd ever seen.]

You just...sound a little familiar, that's all.

[What is fourth wall?]

[creature_conundrum]

Sound familiar, eh? Yaknow, I get that more than you'd think.

[venussoldier]

...Yeah?

[She's not sure why, but listening to the sound of his voice makes her either want to pet him...or sit on him.]

So uh...what are you anyway?

[Tactful as ever...]

[creature_conundrum]

Question for the ages, in more ways than you'd think. [He folds his arms, then taps his cheek in thought.] I'm not even sure I remember all th' way.

Most just call me Ttark when they need ta, though.

[venussoldier]

Ttark, huh? [...Good enough for her.] I'm Minako. Nice to meet you.

So your mun's got vacation plans, huh?

[creature_conundrum]

Nice to meetcha too!

Yep! He's pretty excited about 'em too, even if he tries not to show it.

[venussoldier]

Well hey, you should tell him to lighten up a little! What's the point in making plans if people don't think you're gonna have fun?

If I was taking a vacation, you can bet everyone would know how excited I was about it!

[creature_conundrum]

Yeah, that's what I keep tellin' him! He's such a doubty dingo sometimes, an' he's been worried this trip wouldn't even happen- within reason, but still.

If I know him the way I do though, then he will get excited the closer it gets. Still a month and a half out right now.

[venussoldier]

Hmm, that is a bit of a wait...guess that's enough to build up the anticipation, though.

[Dramatic sigh.] Man, I wish I could go somewhere...it's been such a long time since I've gotten to travel anywhere...

[Pout pout, sigh sigh.]

[creature_conundrum]

Now that's a cryin' shame. Your job keep you from doing it, or just not able to?

[venussoldier]

Mmm, little of both, really. My job used to let me travel sometimes, but lately work's been more...localized.

Besides, not a lot of ways a girl like me can travel without...parental assistance...

[creature_conundrum]

You know, I never understood why you humans rely on your parents for so long. Yeah, I get that some kiddos stay with their families for a long time, particularly in the mammalian circle- look at elephants, where some bulls don't leave the herd 'til they're 15. The way I see it though, if you're ready to go, just go.

[venussoldier]

[There's a bit of a click of her tongue as she rubs the back of her head.]

Problem is, most of us aren't ready to go on our own...least not in some ways. Even if we're willing to live on our own, we might not have the means to do that.

[A sigh.] Animals are lucky that way, I guess. They don't have to deal with things like money and school and careers...

[creature_conundrum]

Yeah, I guess so. The whole trouble started the first time one of your ancestors way back in the Pleistocene era went "Wow that's a pretty rock, I'll give it to you for this pretty rock I have."

Hey, but I don't mean anythin' by it. Humans are just like any other creature, you survive the way you've adapted to. It just happens to be a little different than anything else.

[venussoldier]

[Another sigh as she shrugs.] I guess that's one way of lookin' at it...

Kinda sucks though.

[creature_conundrum]

Chin up, Minako. Things'll be different before ya know it.

[venussoldier]

Man, I hope so...

But I guess in the meantime, there are still plenty of things for me to enjoy.

[creature_conundrum]

That's the spirit! Take what you can get, find joy in the little things. Carpe that diem!

[venussoldier]

Yup! 'sides, I'm still young. I've got plenty of time to do things...

[creature_conundrum]

Exactly, you got all the time in the world.

[venussoldier]

[More than most people would think...]

So what about you, Ttark? What are some things you like to do?

[creature_conundrum]

Oh a little of this, a lotta that. Mostly hangin' out with my fellow creature pals.

[venussoldier]

Oh yeah? That's cool...I like spending time with my friends too...

[creature_conundrum]

Heyy, that's great. You gotta have friends! They can make or break a lot of situations, after all.

[venussoldier]

[She grins.] That's for sure...

[Oh believe me, she knows.]

[creature_conundrum]

Yeah, somethin' told me you'd know all about the value of friendship.

[venussoldier]

Oh yeah...! That's pretty easy to get.

What I don't get is love...

[Odd, considering...]

I'm sorry, that comment was asking for this icon.

[creature_conundrum]

Ahh, love. One of life's greatest mysteries, in the creature and human worlds alike. You wouldn't be alone in not getting it, yaknow. It's just one'a those things, like how would you describe red to a blind person, are we really alone in th' universe, or how many licks does it take?

'Course, where the fun really is, is in people tryin' to find out anyway.

lol Not sorry at all...

[venussoldier]

[A sigh.] I guess so...Though it gets hard after a while...

[the_lion_roller]

Sounds like your mun's got some big plans, ah?

[Psh, Martin, like you don't know...]

[creature_conundrum]

Oh-ho, you know it! First time outta the state in a while, first time ever seeing these friends of his...

[And cue knowing grin.] Plus he's goin' to this thing being put on by a couple'a guys. I doubt you'd know them, but my mun's pretty excited.

[the_lion_roller]

Hah'awesome! Traveling is fun on its own. Traveling to see your buddies is even better!

[And traveling to see creature buddies is best, but who's keeping score?

He grins.]

A thing, huh? H'must be something extra cool if it's got your mun that excited.

[creature_conundrum]

[Do they count as creature buddies if they're a spiritual fox and wolf?

Yep, still grinning.]

Yeah, you could say that. And hey, it takes place at a zoo, so that's gotta be a plus too.

[the_lion_roller]

[Is that what they are? They seem more like a spiritual falcon and...chimera?

His entire expression brightens even more at the word "zoo".]

Oho, that's excellent!!! Nothing makes a vacation like a trip to the zoo.

[Unless it's a visit to the Savannah. Or the Outback. Or the Amazon Rainforest. Or the Great Barrier reef. Or...]

[creature_conundrum]

[Maybe it's a contextual thing.]

Oh yeah-hah, no doubts about it! He went to the local zoo here last vacation, had a blast. It's a kinda controlled creature adventure, but sometimes y'can't beat a good trip to the zoo.

[the_lion_roller]

[Point. Also, avoiding the thought of Ttark being a chimera like the plague.

He laughs.]

Hey if you're outdoors hangin' with creatures and learning about 'em, it's still a creature adventure.

[It's true. You could probably be in your own backyard and have a creature adventure of some kind.]

[creature_conundrum]

[Less chimera, more mythological hybrid. It's a thing, look it up.]

Exactamundo! And you can always count on the zoo to learn ya about creatures a lotta people would otherwise never encounter.

[the_lion_roller]

H'no kidding! Man, I lost count of all the trips Chris and I took to the zoo. H'even just as kids!

[creature_conundrum]

Yeah, and look where you guys are now! [Going back to the zoo, I mean what.]

A lot of people think zoos are unkind, and unfortunately some of 'em are. But that's why you gotta look for the good ones, and keep them supported. They do a lotta good, more than I think some people know.

[zunarjayfive]

[cue this cat being surprised]

Hello.

[ahem] May I ask, what species are you?

[creature_conundrum]

Me? Ohhh, a lil' of this, a lil' of that, lil' bit of everything really.

[zunarjayfive]

Really? [He sounds interested, coming up to politely sniff at Ttark.] I've certainly never seen anyone quite like you. And I would like to think I've been around.