Personification Life IC IX - [Semi Open]

[TotallyNotEvilLand]

It was then, and only then, that Pippa-Michelle discovered that Cerril's chair had wheels.

She gasped again, standing up, and looking upon the strange and wondrous contraption. A chair with wheels? Why? The fleshy had legs, did he not? But fleshies were the bosses, and they didn't have to walk if they didn't want to.

"Pull along pal?" she asked, gently touching one of the handles, though not as roughly as she had with the baton. It was an asking gesture. "Go for a ride with puppy and me playtime dolls!"

Cerril raised a brow as Pippa gasped, looking amused and terrified at the same time. "Erm... no pull alongs. Just going to sit here until my sister comes down to get me." He said, his voice hinting at a lament of his lack of options. Couldn't even reach his pockets to look for something interesting in there. Of course, there wasn't.

The sound of an argument soon came down the stairs as Sherril was following the other guard, the princess claiming she was never informed. The bounces of a foal soon followed, with the repeated, excited shouts of "PAPA!" ringing through the air.

The guard who retrieved Sherril lightly nudged Merut and left the building, waving at the three royals and Pippa-Michelle. "Good luck 'tere, kingeh. Guhna ned it." The two laughed as they left the building, and the loud whirring noise soon resumed as they presumably took off once more.

Naturally, Saren's first instinct upon seeing his father in a chair wasn't to question what happened, but rather to toddle full speed at his knee and try to climb up, screaming ecstatically. "PAPA! YOU'RE HOME!" He yelled, trying to pull himself up but failing to do so.

Sherril, her eyes glazed over, still half asleep, picked up the foal and plopped him into Cerril's lap.

Cerril picked up the foal with one arm and kissed him on the forehead, giving him a playful nuzzle. "Well, not really home... Guess it is for the meantime." He sighed and squeezed him softly before letting him rest on his lap, glancing over at Sherril. "You look like hell."

"If I look like hell you must be what it looks like when hell freezes over." She grumbled out, flopping down onto a seat and slumping over.

[Giovenith]

Fleshies came in all sorts of different shapes and sizes, from the humanoids like Pippa-Michelle's Creator and others, to whatever Pretzels was, to these new people she had no name for that had presented her with the royal family reunion in front of her. Ultimately, none of these things mattered to her, for a fleshy was more than just flesh, they had the Light radiating from their heads and eyes, and that was what told her who was higher than her and thus needed to be listened to. The Light meant they were Real, not like her, and not like animals.

"Snow cone?" Pippa-Michelle looked backward at the sound of the departing chopper curiously, before turning her head back at the two newly arrived royals, and smiling. "Snow cone!"

One was a lady, and one was a fleshy with slightly lower Light (as littler ones tended to have), and they both looked a lot like the chair-bound fleshy.

[Monfrox]

Sinyaya had been minding her own when Giovenith leaped into the lake. The lake of the splash and weird sound warranted Sinyaya's attention. She looked up to see only ripples where her companion had dove in. She crawled over and stared at the water, but due to the refracting light of the waves, she couldn't see well into it. She put her head in the water and tried to look around.

---

Cinnamon and Flint headed home when they were done with work. It was payday and they were feeling very delighted. Upon a close inspection, they found the flier advertising Willow's need of models. Cinnamon's eyes lit up. "Hey! Flint! Let's do this!" She said to her friend as she ripped one of the tabs off without hesitation. She was instantly reminded of the pin-ups that Major Wiske did early in her career as a fighter pilot. Flint, on the other hand, was utterly confused as to what modeling was and what it entitled. However, Cinnamon wasn't about to let that git in their way, and she forcefully dragged Flint down the hall into something she said would get a kick out of.

[The BranRiech]

Kale was covering her eyes with her hands when the door started to open, both for Torii's sake and for the sense of surprise. When Torii's said they could look, Kale uncovered her eyes. A wide grin grew on her face. "You look wonderful Torii!" she exclaimed, "The color looks great on you!" She looked at her for a bit before looking up to Toscha, wanting to see what his reaction.

"I mean, I shouldn't comment on these things, but I suppose you look good?" Toscha asked, hoping to not sound either creepy or timid in the same tone. He glanced at Torii occasionally, hoping to at least give her the privacy she wanted. He didn't want to stare, and certainly wasn't going to. "Hey, guys? I-I'm going to go and wait outside, alright? I don't want to disrupt your shopping at all." He nodded as the Lamia slithered away, blushing as he looked to the floor, passing through the doors and out into the streets.

--

"Oh, please!" Natiya grinned at the reference to lunch. "We can talk this out over a nice burger or something." She nodded at Khro's suggestion, being the thing they were meaning to do for the past few hours, but never really got around to doing for various reasons.

[Giovenith]

Sinyaya's head would be lifted very lightly upward as the soaked godling slipped her own head from the water beneath Sinyaya's gaze, slightly pressing the two's foreheads together. Looking up at the child from a somewhat crooked-eye angle, Giovenith smiled.

"Do you want to go on a mini journey?" she asked innocently, slowly grinning.

--

Writing articles was terrible, and Willow was so dangerously low on notebook paper that a tree activist would crucify him if given the chance... ironically enough. About to pack up for the day, the grey pegasus was stopped when he heard the soft commotion of two female humans making their way into the gym. They didn't look quite prepared for a work-out, so he assumed they could be possible responses to his flier. He flew over in front of them.

"Is there anything I can help you with, misses?" the pony asked with a calm, polite smile, while gently descending onto the floor.

[Torsiedelle]

Torii smiled and blushed even more. To her, things were going well. She was embarrassed at first, but now she felt really good about herself. It had been a good idea to come in the store after all, it seemed.

"Okay, I like this. So, how about I change back, take this up, and we can buy these? Toscha won't have to wait very long, either. How's that sound, Kale?", She asked. "I'll treat us all to a pop or something."

[TotallyNotEvilLand]

Fleshies came in all sorts of different shapes and sizes, from the humanoids like Pippa-Michelle's Creator and others, to whatever Pretzels was, to these new people she had no name for that had presented her with the royal family reunion in front of her. Ultimately, none of these things mattered to her, for a fleshy was more than just flesh, they had the Light radiating from their heads and eyes, and that was what told her who was higher than her and thus needed to be listened to. The Light meant they were Real, not like her, and not like animals.

"Snow cone?" Pippa-Michelle looked backward at the sound of the departing chopper curiously, before turning her head back at the two newly arrived royals, and smiling. "Snow cone!"

One was a lady, and one was a fleshy with slightly lower Light (as littler ones tended to have), and they both looked a lot like the chair-bound fleshy.

Cerril raised a brow at the mention of a snow cone... This was starting to seem like one of those 'lolrandom' people that was popular on the internet.. Perhaps this thing was some sort of artificial intelligence that had been connected to the internet for too long. That would explain the erratic behavior. He was going to open his mouth before Saren stared at Pippa-Michelle with a look of awe, his red eyes beaming in excitement.

"Snowcones!" He yelled, holding his hooves out and squeaking excitedly. He had his mind set on that for dinner. Or desert.. Or whatever time it was. Nothing was going to convince him otherwise. He quickly whipped around and smacked his hooves against Cerril's chest, trying to jump into his face. "Papa! I want snowcones tonight!" He yelled out, bouncing excitedly.

Cerril, having recently inhaled several hazardous chemicals along with taking a round to the lung, let out a pained cough and gently shoved Saren back with his free hand, taking a few seconds to recover. "Ser... Maybe we can just settle for soup... Don't think I can handle frozen food tonight." He muttered, wheezing a little bit as he tried to calm the foal down.

[The Carlisle]

Kale couldn't help but giggle at Tosha's reaction. "Okay Toscha! We'll be quick!" she said.

Kale turned bac to Torii. "Cool! But I can buy my own," she said. The girl then reached in her hair, shuffled around in it, and then pulled out a leafy pouch. She flipped it open, revealing a hefty amount of currency. Kale grinned at Torii, then put the pouch away in her hair. With a giggle and a skip, she rushed to one of the dressing rooms and started changing back into her former outfit.

[Torsiedelle]

"Oh, well, cool."

Torii rushed back into a room as well, and spent the next minute not only changing, but thinking about how handy Kale's hair seemed to be...

"You ready, Plant Girl?", she asked, coming out with the lingerie in hand. "Let's not leave Discus out there. He might get ruffled by some girls. He's a nice guy."

She approached the counter to pay for her clothes and look at some makeup.

[Monfrox]

Sinyaya giggled and nodded. She felt she was finally doing what Varona had told her to do. However, the information gathering seemed lost on her at this point. She sat back out of the water and looked at her companion, awaiting what she might have in store for this "mini-journey" of her's. She still didn't know that they were originally here to spy on goldfish.

---

Cinnamon held the ripped flier tab up for Willow to see. She was just a tad surprised that he was running the show, but she finally felt she was slowly getting used to all the craziness around here. "We're here for the shoot."

"We are?" Flint asked, still confused about what was going on.

[Giovenith]

Cerril raised a brow at the mention of a snow cone... This was starting to seem like one of those 'lolrandom' people that was popular on the internet.. Perhaps this thing was some sort of artificial intelligence that had been connected to the internet for too long. That would explain the erratic behavior. He was going to open his mouth before Saren stared at Pippa-Michelle with a look of awe, his red eyes beaming in excitement.

"Snowcones!" He yelled, holding his hooves out and squeaking excitedly. He had his mind set on that for dinner. Or desert.. Or whatever time it was. Nothing was going to convince him otherwise. He quickly whipped around and smacked his hooves against Cerril's chest, trying to jump into his face. "Papa! I want snowcones tonight!" He yelled out, bouncing excitedly.

Cerril, having recently inhaled several hazardous chemicals along with taking a round to the lung, let out a pained cough and gently shoved Saren back with his free hand, taking a few seconds to recover. "Ser... Maybe we can just settle for soup... Don't think I can handle frozen food tonight." He muttered, wheezing a little bit as he tried to calm the foal down.

Pippa-Michelle seemed to reach into her mouth and pull out a large crumpled piece of paper from her throat, that was completely dry, and handed it to Cerril. It was half a recipe for lentil soup.

"Bake half-degree!"

She clearly agreed.

---

Sinyaya giggled and nodded. She felt she was finally doing what Varona had told her to do. However, the information gathering seemed lost on her at this point. She sat back out of the water and looked at her companion, awaiting what she might have in store for this "mini-journey" of her's. She still didn't know that they were originally here to spy on goldfish.

"Come, come," the godling gently held out her arms from the water. "There's stars below."

Cinnamon held the ripped flier tab up for Willow to see. She was just a tad surprised that he was running the show, but she finally felt she was slowly getting used to all the craziness around here. "We're here for the shoot."

"We are?" Flint asked, still confused about what was going on.

Willow smiled and snatched the flier tab with his teeth, then flew back over to his small station to set it down and jot a few things down in a notebook. After that, he picked up and balanced a check board with an attached pen in his forelegs, then flew back over to the two women and handed it to them. On the board were a stack of small forms, and picture. "Sign one of these please, and then select the number of the apple picture you like best."

The form read as such:

"I ________________, give permission for Willow Streaks and/or Giovenith Jerid to take artistic licence with my image based on the style I have selected, and to reprint said artistic rendition in the Apartment Art Pamphlet.

Number:

Name:
Age:
Apartment number (for the purposes of delivering final project):
Short summary of self (optional): "

The pony looked between the two and frowned, seeming to realize something. "Are you getting your own separate shoots, or are you doing one together?"

[The Carlisle]

Kale nodded to Torii. She started walking to the register before stopping mid-stride. An idea popped in her head. "Hold on for a sec!" she exclaimed. She then dashed back to the clothing to look for something. It took a bit, but she found what she was looking for. A black lacy bra dangled from Kale's free hand. "Got it!" she exclaimed before dashing back to the register. She gave Torii a grin before handing the clothes to the cashier. "Can you put the black one in a separate bag?" she said. She looked a the makeup Torii was looking at as she paid. "Anything good?" she said to Torii.

[Torsiedelle]

"I...don't know.", Torii admitted. "I don't normally wear makeup, but I was looking at eye shadow and mascara..."

She slapped her forehead. "And I forgot a bra! Damn!"

Oh well, she thought. It wasn't that important, right? It was just a little thought she had. She might not have even liked them, so maybe it wasn't that bad. She still had her...other stuff.

"Well, no worries. Why do you need a bra, Kale? I thought you were, you know, a naturalist or whatever."

..........

"They're not too far between, and it hurts.", Katya responded, moving to the bed. "I don't know how close it is, but I want something to help now. I can't take this, I swear...I..I just need to rest! Shit!", She stumbled. "What do you think?"

[Swith Witherward]

"I...don't know.", Torii admitted. "I don't normally wear makeup, but I was looking at eye shadow and mascara..."

She slapped her forehead. "And I forgot a bra! Damn!"

Oh well, she thought. It wasn't that important, right? It was just a little thought she had. She might not have even liked them, so maybe it wasn't that bad. She still had her...other stuff.

"Well, no worries. Why do you need a bra, Kale? I thought you were, you know, a naturalist or whatever."

..........

"They're not too far between, and it hurts.", Katya responded, moving to the bed. "I don't know how close it is, but I want something to help now. I can't take this, I swear...I..I just need to rest! Shit!", She stumbled. "What do you think?"

"You took what caused it. You can take this, too. You're strong." The daemonette glided into the room with a pan draped by soft cloths. Ogoti's minions weren't unsympathetic to pain. Birth was part of a cycle that all mortal things endured. Of course, they had no sympathy for any woman that would scream about pregnancy yet spread their legs wide and engage in an activity that brought on pregnancy. Ogoti's daemons weren't feminists or politically correct, but when you're a fracture of the god of death and life, you really couldn't care less about human movements. Katya was respected by them, however, and they'd see to it that her needs were taken care of. She had carried the child to term rather than play god and do fate's job by killing the fetus. This was another way in which the daemonettes lacked political correctness... not that they care what anything thought of their opinions. After all, they couldn't vote and had no desire to hold office.

"Come, strip off your clothing and dress in this gown, then rest on the bed. I'll give you something to calm you, but I won't give you anything to stop the contractions. It is part of birth. But first, I need to know what you plan to do. It will determine how you will experience this moment. If you intend to birth and never see the child again, I can put your mind to sleep. You'll awake feeling fresh and renewed, and won't have any latent effects from the pregnancy. If you intend to give birth and then bid the child farewell, I can numb the pain some. You'll still need time to recover, and your milk will take time to dry up. You can elect to have the memory wiped away, rather than dwell on the memory of the child. If you choose to keep the child, I will numb the pain some but all the other things apply. You'll recover here for the day and the next, and then take the child home with you. It is your decision."

A clean sheet fluttered in the air and then came to rest on the bed. The daemonette's head tipped. "To answer the unasked questions: the child will be placed in a loving human family, if you elect to give it up. That family may be local or it might be a good family from your native land. Or, the child can be placed with Minerva. She will raise it as her own but she'll frown on any attempts by you to take the child back. You would at least get to see the child grow into an adult. We can also send the child to be reared by your father or mother if they are willing."

[Tiltjuice]

Dia saluted briefly with the rifle, then whisked out of the room, closing the door behind them to go visit Tasia.

Next to Katya, Dora looked her up and down thoughtfully.

"Anything you decide to go with is fine with me, you know that. If you're confused or taken aback by all this...do you need time to think about it? I won't mind helping you talk through the choices if you need to. Or, if you've already made up your mind, I'll do whatever I can to help."

[Torsiedelle]

And so now Katya found herself with several choices, none of which seemed particularly satisfying. She had a choice of living independently, like she wanted, but she couldn't just let the child go. That would be terrible...

She looked pale. "I can't give it up, but I don't....I'm still young...I need my Independence....Dora, should I give it to Minerva? I don't feel right..."

She started to take off articles of clothing, shaking slightly. She had a choice, but she wanted to make sure it was the best one for her.

[The New Velociraptor Empire]

Willow smiled and snatched the flier tab with his teeth, then flew back over to his small station to set it down and jot a few things down in a notebook. After that, he picked up and balanced a check board with an attached pen in his forelegs, then flew back over to the two women and handed it to them. On the board were a stack of small forms, and picture. "Sign one of these please, and then select the number of the apple picture you like best."

The form read as such:

"I ________________, give permission for Willow Streaks and/or Giovenith Jerid to take artistic licence with my image based on the style I have selected, and to reprint said artistic rendition in the Apartment Art Pamphlet.

Number:

Name:
Age:
Apartment number (for the purposes of delivering final project):
Short summary of self (optional): "

The pony looked between the two and frowned, seeming to realize something. "Are you getting your own separate shoots, or are you doing one together?"

Jenny, the adolescent raptor, crept stealthily into the gym. In her claw she carried a paper slip given to her by her parents. "Hello? Mum and Dad sent me for art modeling or something or other because they couldn't come. Some secret meeting or plotting is keeping them." Jenny explained to the quadruped mammal.

[Giovenith]

Jenny, the adolescent raptor, crept stealthily into the gym. In her claw she carried a paper slip given to her by her parents. "Hello? Mum and Dad sent me for art modeling or something or other because they couldn't come. Some secret meeting or plotting is keeping them." Jenny explained to the quadruped mammal.

The pegasus seemed to do a half-way cartwheel in midair, flying himself on his back and stretching his neck down to look backward without turning, and took in the upside down Jenny. He was confused for a split-second before remembering the raptors, and figured our this must have been their child. He righted himself and took back the clipboard.

"Excuse me," Willow apologized to Flint and Cinnamon, before carefully slipping out the top form and then handing back the clipboard. He bit the thing between his teeth and flew over to the young dinosaur, landing so as to hand it to her with his foreleg. The pony turned his head to the side and folded down one of his flexible ears, and a pencil rolled out into his hoof, which he also gave to Jenny. "I'll have you select a style once they're done picking theirs'. It should be noted that when one person or group picks a style number, that style is then off limits to others, so I apologize if you don't get one you liked. It's for variety reasons. Is it only you coming to have your portrait done?" Willow didn't mind who came to model, few or many (within reason), but he found it a little odd that the reptile he'd conversed with in the halls only sent one, and wanted to make sure he was doing the family's order correctly.

[Tiltjuice]

The naked mole rat oblivious bunny in question nodded as enthusiastically as he could under the circumstances. New suit! And a chance to watch mad scientist work. Good!

He hopped closer to Sapphire. When do we start?

"Soon. Once they leave for lunch, which isn't until another 10 minutes. We can wait patiently by the door until they all leave, mainly because doing "experiments" or injecting animals with genetic augmentations is a big no no per Dr. Smith. And I can vouch for that reason too. You are an exception though."

Sapphire carried the rabbit down the hall towards the elevator. Once in they arrived onto the second floor to where she would find a nice place to sit by the lab room to where mostly inconspicuous by the fellow workers.

Lunch! Food important. MB's stomach rumbled lightly, as the elevator dinged to announce their arrival on the second floor. Why no augmentations for animals? He squirmed slightly, trying to get a look at what the workers were doing.

And will there be delicious glassware? he asked hopefully, ears rotating slowly in opposite directions.

[Tiltjuice]

And so now Katya found herself with several choices, none of which seemed particularly satisfying. She had a choice of living independently, like she wanted, but she couldn't just let the child go. That would be terrible...

She looked pale. "I can't give it up, but I don't....I'm still young...I need my Independence....Dora, should I give it to Minerva? I don't feel right..."

She started to take off articles of clothing, shaking slightly. She had a choice, but she wanted to make sure it was the best one for her.

There was a pause. Dora reflected, once again, that Katya was doing the best she could weigh a bad situation, and took a breath.

"You don't have to decide right away, you know. The little one still has to come out before we decide what to do with him or her. I know what you're feeling, even if I'll never feel it myself. It's a tough question, and rushing to answer it isn't what I'd call a good thing. This isn't Sparta, if you catch my drift."

There was an impassioned look on Dora's face, as always, but this one was the result of more than her normal detached demeanor. I know what I would advise, but those are the choices I would make, for myself first, then for Chrys. Not necessarily what Katya would pick. But springing another life lesson on her isn't what she needs. Besides, things might get very awkward if I switched to the parenting role right now. Stick to what you are, Dora.

[The New Velociraptor Empire]

The pegasus seemed to do a halfway cartwheel in midair, flying himself on his back and stretching his neck down to look backward without turning, and took in the upside down Jenny. He was confused for a split-second before remembering the raptors, and figured out this must have been their child. He righted himself and took back the clipboard.

"Excuse me," Willow apologized to Flint and Cinnamon, before carefully slipping out the top form and then handing back the clipboard. He bit the thing between his teeth and flew over to the young dinosaur, landing so as to hand it to her with his foreleg. The pony turned his head to the side and folded down one of his flexible ears, and a pencil rolled out into his hoof, which he also gave to Jenny. "I'll have you select a style once they're done picking theirs'. It should be noted that when one person or group picks a style number, that style is then off limits to others, so I apologize if you don't get one you liked. It's for variety reasons. Is it only you coming to have your portrait done?" Willow didn't mind who came to model, few or many (within reason), but he found it a little odd that the reptile he'd conversed with in the halls only sent one, and wanted to make sure he was doing the family's order correctly.

"My two brothers will be here shortly for a group portrait, one of their heads is stuck in a metal vase currently." Jenny answered and started filling out the form, surprised it was simple. Raptor paperwork was notoriously convoluted, requiring 20 pages to install a new toilet.

[Torsiedelle]

And so now Katya found herself with several choices, none of which seemed particularly satisfying. She had a choice of living independently, like she wanted, but she couldn't just let the child go. That would be terrible...

She looked pale. "I can't give it up, but I don't....I'm still young...I need my Independence....Dora, should I give it to Minerva? I don't feel right..."

She started to take off articles of clothing, shaking slightly. She had a choice, but she wanted to make sure it was the best one for her.

There was a pause. Dora reflected, once again, that Katya was doing the best she could weigh a bad situation, and took a breath.

"You don't have to decide right away, you know. The little one still has to come out before we decide what to do with him or her. I know what you're feeling, even if I'll never feel it myself. It's a tough question, and rushing to answer it isn't what I'd call a good thing. This isn't Sparta, if you catch my drift."

There was an impassioned look on Dora's face, as always, but this one was the result of more than her normal detached demeanor. I know what I would advise, but those are the choices I would make, for myself first, then for Chrys. Not necessarily what Katya would pick. But springing another life lesson on her isn't what she needs. Besides, things might get very awkward if I switched to the parenting role right now. Stick to what you are, Dora.

"I know, I know, but that's still not a lot of time!", Katya squirmed in pain. Slipping on her gown, she climbed onto the bed and gasped several times. "It's not just going to affect me, either. Minerva, Tora, you, and a lot more, depending on the choice. I have to be sure about it."

[Giovenith]

The pegasus seemed to do a halfway cartwheel in midair, flying himself on his back and stretching his neck down to look backward without turning, and took in the upside down Jenny. He was confused for a split-second before remembering the raptors, and figured out this must have been their child. He righted himself and took back the clipboard.

"Excuse me," Willow apologized to Flint and Cinnamon, before carefully slipping out the top form and then handing back the clipboard. He bit the thing between his teeth and flew over to the young dinosaur, landing so as to hand it to her with his foreleg. The pony turned his head to the side and folded down one of his flexible ears, and a pencil rolled out into his hoof, which he also gave to Jenny. "I'll have you select a style once they're done picking theirs'. It should be noted that when one person or group picks a style number, that style is then off limits to others, so I apologize if you don't get one you liked. It's for variety reasons. Is it only you coming to have your portrait done?" Willow didn't mind who came to model, few or many (within reason), but he found it a little odd that the reptile he'd conversed with in the halls only sent one, and wanted to make sure he was doing the family's order correctly.

"My two brothers will be here shortly for a group portrait, one of their heads is stuck in a metal vase currently." Jenny answered and started filling out the form, surprised it was simple. Raptor paperwork was notoriously convoluted, requiring 20 pages to install a new toilet.

Willow found himself jerking back in surprise at Jenny's description of her brother's conundrum, and frowned in both concern and secret wonder about how anyone, let alone a raptor, could get themselves caught up in such a way. He used his better judgement and decided not to ask, thinking it'd be rude, and cleared his throat.

"Well, I certainly hope he makes it out unscathed," he said, turning his surprise/concern into yet another reserved, polite smile. The pony turned slightly and swept his foreleg over toward a pile of boxes. "But while you're here, would you like to get a head start to call dibs on any props you want? They're all free now, and I know how siblings can be. I'll get the style selection back to you when I can. Oh, and I'll take that form."

[TotallyNotEvilLand]

Pippa-Michelle seemed to reach into her mouth and pull out a large crumpled piece of paper from her throat, that was completely dry, and handed it to Cerril. It was half a recipe for lentil soup.

"Bake half-degree!"

She clearly agreed.

Cerril's face crinkled up in a look of disgust and horror as Pippa pulled up a piece of paper from her throat. Despite it being completely dry... that was still fairly gross. "... Erm. I think I'll settle for canned chicken noodle." He said, turning his head to look over at Sherril. "Sherri, you mind hauling my crippled ass up the stairs? I haven't had anything to eat since yesterday morning. Stomach's killing me." He let out a pained cough and grasped at his chest before recovering. "Among other things..."

Sherril, naturally, didn't find the idea of hauling a 200 pound Arkadat, plus his chair up a set of stairs too appealing. "Isn't there an elevator here or something? Why don't you use that?"

Cerril's attempt to remain grinning soon faded. "You're the most compassionate sister a guy could ask for." He said with a sigh, looking around and then to Pippa-Michelle. "Hey, paper puker. Is there an elevator here?"

[Cerillium]

The tranquility of this place was that which Ilun slightly enjoyed; the silence provided welcome release for his mind to wander and think without interruption and at ease. Alongside his 'natural' enemy, he found a strange comfort, settled with the idea that anything could be made to be reasonable, even something so seemingly rigid.

The machine's observations were intriguing to Ilun; never had he speculated on his own self, not far enough to think of the very nature as that of essentially a parasite, but with this he found no problem. He had no say of his creation, nor that of his kind, and neither the form of his body or the way in which he inhabited it.

"I am a Dronid." He replied flatly, seeming as not to explain any further, seeing it as unnecessary to explain. He continued, "And I am here on terms of...improvised thinking."

His words were true; he did indeed hit random coordinates in an immediate effort of escape, and appeared in the general area near Earth, by some strange fortune (or misfortune, possibly).

"However, I do find it a personal goal to analyze and archive any data I may come across, though this has hardly any impact outside of private interest." He said as they continued along. The sounds of the forest were all around him, though looking back the city still sat in view. Certainly he would find time again to investigate further, and then, there was the 'Dani' female. A strange creature, he would be sure to see her again...

--

Dani's ship touched down upon its old resting place once more, she having promptly heeded the building's advisory. As the ship returned to an idle state once more, she sat and stared out at the 'window', in truth an enormous visuals monitor relaying the view outside to her with crisp detail. It was in noticing this that she looked around her own ship, seeing all the strange and recent adaptations that went about its cabin - when the hell did she have the time to do all of this?

She tugged at the seat straps, which did not budge while the ship was at rest, and ran her fingers along the edge of the cupholders, even swiped the dust off the dashboard. She could hardly remember all the time she spent retrofitting this thing. Looking across the roof, she saw the other ship. Slender and dark, it seemed quite intimidating, lacking the age of her own.

With curiosity about her mind, she abandoned her own vessel, briskly crossing the distance to this other ship. Its rear was open, almost as if expecting her entrance. She peeked within, in case some strange defense mechanism set off, though none such mechanism ever did. Within, there was a tall but narrow space, illuminated just barely by red lighting that seemed almost foreboding. At the very end of the interior, the wall seemed almost mangled, and the interior workings of the ship's control mechanism exposed - he apparently hard about as much authority over this ship as she, perhaps more, for it did not obey him without force.

Before she could enter to further investigate what little there might be to find, she heard a sudden buzzing sound, and the 'pang' of metal. The ship seemed to shudder and stir, as the exposed devices at the far end were sucked back into their place by a flood of strange, wiry arms.

By the time Dani reached the roof's edge, the ship was taking off on its own accord. To her, this was an immediate sign, that she had been tricked, betrayed, that what she had encountered was surely some new Drone spy, and that she had let it escape. Before she would let it escape, she ran to her own ship, quickly awakening it. The dark alien vessel had already begun to slip into the skies, but its final destination it would not make.

Dried leaves crackled under the Drone's appendages as he marched along. The remaining forest crown from last autumn was now nothing but a decaying carpet. Soon this year's leaves would join them. Darius had never experienced the seasons; all things were wintery bleak in his timeline. The subtle shift hadn't been lost on him although he was at a loss to explain the vegetation's habits.

"To what aim, Ilun, do you analyze and archive?" Darius sought to drive the unsolved mysteries from his thoughts but his efforts made him stumble upon even more unanswerable questions. Perhaps the Dronid could enlighten him. "Personal interest? Are there not more of you? What will you do with the collected data? Will it fade when you do?"