HPU: Sunset Plateau

valerio · Post by **valerio** » Sun May 25, 2014 10:37 am

Hlaoroo wrote:"Oh, that was Rikki? Nice to have met you Rikki!" Frances calls in the direction of the long-gone ferret. Scotty nearly chokes again but this time it's from mirth. Once he recovers, Scotty uses his tablet to address the cop.
"That would be very kind of her. We feel welcome already."
"Indeed we do. Thank you for being so kind and welcoming."
"Hey, Officer Walter...? Frances would never ask this but... I don't suppose you could give us a hand moving in, or ask the Leones to once our truck arrives. We don't want to take advantage of you or anything but the moving guys don't really do much and I'm not really very good at carrying boxes or putting things on the high shelves so..." Scotty shrugs half apologetically and half hopefully as Frances starts to protest.
"Oh, that's really not necessary. I'm sure we can manage..."

Already Walter was producing his phone and speed-dialing a number. "Frances, we're neighbors, and we help each other out. It's tradition... Hello? George? Hi, listen, we've got this situation with a movers' truck..." he filled in the details, then, "Yes, I want those guys at the address yesterday. And send for Craig's boys, for when the stuff is there. I owe you...Yes, that and two T-bones. Say hi to Piper for me willya? Bye." he hung up. "Done. George's truck will have the thing repaired and carried to your place in no time, and Craig's boys will make sure to move everything in by your instructions. Sometimes it pays to be the guy who saved their necks in that 'accident' I told yu about before."

MrNeonShot · Post by **MrNeonShot** » Sun May 25, 2014 8:27 pm

I wouldn't mind playing a around... Maybe my reflexes with playing the piano will transfer to slapping cards? Wiggins pondered.

hypernovatic · Post by **hypernovatic** » Sun May 25, 2014 10:10 pm

"I guess I'll play too. I've got nothing better to do." Matatabi said.

Sun May 25, 2014 10:12 pm

"Count me in too," Jess added.

Post by **Hlaoroo** » Tue May 27, 2014 6:38 am

"I'll play, if yer'll trust me after seein' my magic." confirms Chris with a wink and a tailwag.

--------------------
Scotty gives the cop a huge smile and a double thumbs up. "Thanks heaps! That's great!"
Frances, on the other hand, begins to well up.
"I... I don't know what to say... Thank you! Thank you so much! That... that really means a lot! You really have no idea... You've been so kind and welcoming! Thank you!" She pulls a tissue from her purse and dabs at her eyes.
"You know something, Scotty? I think we're finally home again." Scotty nods smiling and Frances almost thought she saw a tear forming in the cat's own eye before the cat averts his gaze and busies himself with his plate again.

valerio · Post by **valerio** » Tue May 27, 2014 8:08 am

Hlaoroo wrote:Scotty gives the cop a huge smile and a double thumbs up. "Thanks heaps! That's great!"
Frances, on the other hand, begins to well up.
"I... I don't know what to say... Thank you! Thank you so much! That... that really means a lot! You really have no idea... You've been so kind and welcoming! Thank you!" She pulls a tissue from her purse and dabs at her eyes.
"You know something, Scotty? I think we're finally home again." Scotty nods smiling and Frances almost thought she saw a tear forming in the cat's own eye before the cat averts his gaze and busies himself with his plate again.

Walter shrugged as he finished with his plate. "We don't pretend to represent the perfect world, but I was taught since childhood that a warm welcome works miracles in making life easier. You can't create a good community if you start mistrusting the newcomers." He hesitated a moment before asking, "So...what will you be doing for a living here, Frances...if I'm not being too invasive of your privacy, that is."

Pecan · Post by **Pecan** » Tue May 27, 2014 6:35 pm

"I'm s-still in, too." Will tilted his head in thought. "Th-though, who's dealing?"

xhunterko · Post by **xhunterko** » Fri May 30, 2014 12:20 am

After an awkward silence, Chealzeyard reacted.

"I suppose," Chealzeyard said, swiping the cards from Blay before he could protest, "Chris, your up to deal then card shark."

Post by **Hlaoroo** » Fri May 30, 2014 9:57 am

"Awlrigh' den. 'Ow any are playin'?" Chris counts the raised paws as she shuffles the deck without so much as a glance at it and then sends the cards spinning across the table to rest perfectly in front of each player. After several times around the table her paws are empty and she straightens her own stack, wagging her tail excitedly.
"'Oo's goin' first, den?" she asks, seating herself at the table.

--------------------
"That's true. You, or your parents, are very wise... I'll be doing the same thing I do everywhere. I'm a writer, a novelist to be more precise, so I'm not really tied to working in any one place thanks to email. I don't think I'm hugely well known or even all that popular but I make enough to get by... I think I might have to come to this diner more often. It has a nice atmosphere. I could get a lot done here..." She watches as Scotty finally has to push his plate away before leaning back in his chair and rubbing his distended belly. He's managed to polish off almost three quarters of his plate whereas Frances has barely managed half. Scotty stifles a burp with a delicately curled index pawfinger and dabs at his whiskers with his napkin before pulling his tablet towards him again.
"Pardon me. Whew! Don't think I could manage another bite! I haven't eaten like that in a loooong time!" Scotty makes sure to put the extra o's in the word. Frances can guess what he's about to say next and her suspicious are confirmed a moment later as the cat hits the "speak" button.
"No offence, Frances, but your cooking SUCKS compared to this!"
"Hey! I try!" she giggles.
"If you come over for dinner, Officer Walter, make sure she takes the plastic wrapper off the lasagne before she puts it in the microwave. And make sure the microwave is set to three minutes and not thirty." Scotty is grinning broadly the whole time he types this.
"I only did that once! And you're no better! Remember the time you tried to surprise me with breakfast in bed?"
Scotty grimaces in mock offence.
"The recipe was for toaster waffles so I put the batter in the toaster! How was I to know it didn't work like that?"
"Perhaps by reading page two of the recipe?" asks Frances with raised eyebrows. The two glare at each other, both trying to hold their laughter in behind their façade of feigned anger but neither can keep a straight face and the two both end up laughing until they're breathless at the incidents which although embarrassing at the time, now seem quite ridiculously humorous.
Managing to recover himself somewhat, Scotty types on his tablet again, giggling occasionally.
"We're sorry, Officer. We tease each other a lot. You'll get used to us eventually. We hope."

MrNeonShot · Post by **MrNeonShot** » Fri May 30, 2014 4:18 pm

How about the person to your left? Wiggins suggested.

hypernovatic · Post by **hypernovatic** » Fri May 30, 2014 11:39 pm

"Yeah, I agree with Wiggins." Matatabi said, straightening his deck and sitting in the seat directly across from Chris.

xhunterko · Post by **xhunterko** » Sat May 31, 2014 12:14 am

"That's usually the case, go ahead," Ellsward said, folding up his hand along with the other officers that did the same.

valerio · Post by **valerio** » Sat May 31, 2014 2:19 am

Hlaoroo wrote:"That's true. You, or your parents, are very wise... I'll be doing the same thing I do everywhere. I'm a writer, a novelist to be more precise, so I'm not really tied to working in any one place thanks to email. I don't think I'm hugely well known or even all that popular but I make enough to get by... I think I might have to come to this diner more often. It has a nice atmosphere. I could get a lot done here..." She watches as Scotty finally has to push his plate away before leaning back in his chair and rubbing his distended belly. He's managed to polish off almost three quarters of his plate whereas Frances has barely managed half. Scotty stifles a burp with a delicately curled index pawfinger and dabs at his whiskers with his napkin before pulling his tablet towards him again.
"Pardon me. Whew! Don't think I could manage another bite! I haven't eaten like that in a loooong time!" Scotty makes sure to put the extra o's in the word. Frances can guess what he's about to say next and her suspicious are confirmed a moment later as the cat hits the "speak" button.
"No offence, Frances, but your cooking SUCKS compared to this!"
"Hey! I try!" she giggles.
"If you come over for dinner, Officer Walter, make sure she takes the plastic wrapper off the lasagne before she puts it in the microwave. And make sure the microwave is set to three minutes and not thirty." Scotty is grinning broadly the whole time he types this.
"I only did that once! And you're no better! Remember the time you tried to surprise me with breakfast in bed?"
Scotty grimaces in mock offence.
"The recipe was for toaster waffles so I put the batter in the toaster! How was I to know it didn't work like that?"
"Perhaps by reading page two of the recipe?" asks Frances with raised eyebrows. The two glare at each other, both trying to hold their laughter in behind their façade of feigned anger but neither can keep a straight face and the two both end up laughing until they're breathless at the incidents which although embarrassing at the time, now seem quite ridiculously humorous.
Managing to recover himself somewhat, Scotty types on his tablet again, giggling occasionally.
"We're sorry, Officer. We tease each other a lot. You'll get used to us eventually. We hope."

Walter was chuckling, amused and admired by that level of interaction. He was actualy thinking he could be more the cat type...
"I'm sure I will. After all, you have already seen how's it with my mother. I'm sure I'll enjoy your cooking if you need a guinea-pig...But I could read some of your work. I make sure I have my own free time, and I love to spend it reading. What to you write? If you'll allow Valiant, he and Rikki will give you the full story of how they rescued the pandas and created the artificial lake...but he also collected a book's worth of tales of his old job in Italy. I swear, it's like them ol' western novels all over." The man realized he was starting to panic, and that hadn't happened since the last time he had to go into a burrow to save a cat. Ironic that now he was considering a cat, right? Odog!
Walteer stood up. "Got to go." He put on his cap and saluted. "Do you need a ride home, ma'm? Sir?"

SuperStar · Post by **SuperStar** » Sat May 31, 2014 4:06 am

"Okay, so we go on from the left, but syill: who goes first?" Blay asked, soundin kind of annoyed. He didn't mean to sound that way, but his lack of social interaction madeit a little hard for him to control his tones.

Post by **Hlaoroo** » Sat May 31, 2014 8:17 am

"Awlrigh'. Dat's you, innit, Chealzeyard?" Chris, in high spirits, begins humming "Good Morning" from the film "Singin' in the Rain".

--------------------
"I've written mainly fantasy in the past but I've been intending to branch out and try something else. Perhaps this would be a good opportunity. I'd love to have a chat with Valiant if he's not too busy with his wedding. When you say "a book's worth of tales" do you mean that he's already written them?" Frances looks over at Scotty regarding the cop's last question and the cat, reading her thoughts shrugs and makes a quick sign to her.
"No, thank you. We'll go for a walk. Well, I'll walk, at least. Scotty'll ride in his chair. It'll be a good opportunity to see the town. We can't really get lost since it was just straight down the street, wasn't it?" Frances steps out of the booth to allow Walter to get out, rummaging in her purse as she does so. Pulling out a couple of bank notes, she offers them to the cop.
"This is for our breakfast. Thank you for your kindness and for making us so welcome. It's greatly appreciated. You'll be most welcome to stop by our house any time you need a break."

valerio · Post by **valerio** » Sat May 31, 2014 4:56 pm

Hlaoroo wrote:"I've written mainly fantasy in the past but I've been intending to branch out and try something else. Perhaps this would be a good opportunity. I'd love to have a chat with Valiant if he's not too busy with his wedding. When you say "a book's worth of tales" do you mean that he's already written them?" Frances looks over at Scotty regarding the cop's last question and the cat, reading her thoughts shrugs and makes a quick sign to her.
"No, thank you. We'll go for a walk. Well, I'll walk, at least. Scotty'll ride in his chair. It'll be a good opportunity to see the town. We can't really get lost since it was just straight down the street, wasn't it?" Frances steps out of the booth to allow Walter to get out, rummaging in her purse as she does so. Pulling out a couple of bank notes, she offers them to the cop.
"This is for our breakfast. Thank you for your kindness and for making us so welcome. It's greatly appreciated. You'll be most welcome to stop by our house any time you need a break."

"I hope I didn't hear her paying for something!" came Dorothy's voice -funnily enough, it sounded much like Holowitz's mother... "She's being my guest here, son!"
Walter went paler than a bleached ghost's sheet. He frantically motioned for Frances to put the money over the table. To the kitchen, he shouted back, "She's just leaving a tip, mom!" Then, to Frances, "No, Valiant didn't write anything, but I'm sure you can transform his tales into something epic. This said, see you tonight. Take it easy, when you're home you'll find everything in place." and then he left.

xhunterko · Post by **xhunterko** » Mon Jun 02, 2014 4:38 pm

Chealzeyard nodded.

"If everyone's ready and remembers the rules," he said, tossing down a seven of diamonds.

"Let the game begin!" He finished.

"Sorry Fellsward, no Pandas Playing Poker, heh," Chealzeyard said to him. Fellsward simply rolled his eyes.

MrNeonShot · Post by **MrNeonShot** » Mon Jun 02, 2014 6:43 pm

I've never understood poker. Wiggins remarks as he lays down an ace of diamonds.

Post by **Hlaoroo** » Tue Jun 03, 2014 1:22 pm

"I'm qui'e good a' poker bu' dey don' allow magicians in casinos 'cause dey fink we'll count da cards or somefin." confides Chris, her tail wag slowing momentarily as she winks sneakily at Wiggins and Chealzeyard.

--------------------
"Thank you so much!"
"Thanks, Officer!" Scotty turns his volume up to max so the retreating cop will hopefully hear it.
The pair also call their thanks to Dorothy and then Frances leaves a hefty tip under her plate for Dorothy before helping Scotty out the door and back onto the street. Chatting amicably as best they can while Scotty's paws are occupied pushing his chair, the two make their way back down the road, taking in the new sights, sounds and smells and digesting their massive meals.

xhunterko · Post by **xhunterko** » Tue Jun 03, 2014 1:52 pm

"Spoil sports," Felsward says, laying down a jack of spades.

"What do you pets like to do for fun? Besides the shiny boxes, of course," he said, "Also I forget." He stacked up his cards and cut them to shuffle them right quick.

"Our hands are supposed to be like this," he said.

hypernovatic · Post by **hypernovatic** » Tue Jun 03, 2014 5:37 pm

"Well, I usually play video games in my spare time." Matatabi answered, laying down a queen of clubs.

SuperStar · Post by **SuperStar** » Tue Jun 03, 2014 8:41 pm

"I play video-games a lot too. When I'm not doing that, I'm on Online Forums." Blay said while waiting for his turn.

Pecan · Post by **Pecan** » Tue Jun 03, 2014 9:22 pm

"I u-usually write." Will chipped in, a slight blush on his face as he mentioned it. "I've n-never played a video game before-- Uncle Paige is h-heavily into reading, D-dad is really young and w-with friends most of the t-time, and Randy is u-usually working. And b-before that, w-well..." The mink looked down. "It's n-not that I'm not interested in t-trying them, it's just... I don't w-wanna seem selfish."

Tue Jun 03, 2014 11:05 pm

"I read and play some video games," Jess said laying down the Ace of clubs. "But I mostly just text with a few friends and hang out with others."

SuperStar · Post by **SuperStar** » Wed Jun 04, 2014 1:33 am

"I don't like getting out much. I prefer speaking to people through pixels." Blay said, a little quietly. He Pulled out his 3DS, and quickly started checking his Town in Animal Crossing.

Post by **Hlaoroo** » Wed Jun 04, 2014 2:55 am

"Well, yer know my 'obby." Chris points out as she replicates Felsward's move with ease but with the exception of throwing down a card.
"But i's no' j'st card an' cup tricks I do. I awlso do escapes an' stage magic like choppin' people up an' makin' 'em disappear, like. Plus a coupl o' ovvva cool fings da' I won' spoil in case yer come to a show." She winks at the assembled pets and her tail wags faster as she remember all the types of magic that she knows.

MrNeonShot · Post by **MrNeonShot** » Wed Jun 04, 2014 10:05 am

I play the piano when my parents aren't home. They still think I'm a beginner. Wiggins confessed.

Pecan · Post by **Pecan** » Wed Jun 04, 2014 2:04 pm

Will let the six of Spades fall from his hand as he heard Chris, a wide-eyed look on his face as he turned to her. "Ch-ch-ch-ch-chop p-people u-u-up?" He asked, a lilt of terror creeping into his voice. "Wh-wh-wh-what d-d-do y-you m-m-mean?"

xhunterko · Post by **xhunterko** » Wed Jun 04, 2014 2:11 pm

ooc: Will has the 6 of Diamonds actually. Never mind, I switched it.

ic:

Ellsward turned his attention to the mink.

"You shouldn't be worried about that you know," he said, "Stuffing your face in something and ignoring everyone around you is selfish no matter what it is. Unless it's you time and your by yourself. Also, what she means is it's a stage trick. You ever watch good big time magic shows?" Ellsward wasn't paying attention and played the six of diamonds!

"You should play something fantastic once when they're coming home one time," Fellsward said, "I'm sure they'd be delighted." He failed to notice the card as well.

MrNeonShot · Post by **MrNeonShot** » Wed Jun 04, 2014 2:58 pm

Wiggins saw the card, but wasn't sure if he should slap, or see if someone else notices. Winni saw and tried to tell Wiggins to slap, but he still didn't move.

Pecan · Post by **Pecan** » Wed Jun 04, 2014 5:28 pm

(Sorry about that! I grabbed the wrong hand by mistake. I grabbed the right hand this time, though, and switched the sixes.)

"O-oh." Will's sigh of relief could have woken a bear from hibernation. "No, I h-haven't." As an afterthought, he added, "B-but, um, it wasn't p-playing one that I thought w-would be selfish. It w-was asking for one. Though y-you're right."

He looked at the table and gasped lightly, reaching his hand towards the cards. "U-um, Slapjack." He exclaimed-- or, well, as close to an exclamation as Will could get.

Post by **Hlaoroo** » Wed Jun 04, 2014 5:49 pm

Having been distracted momentarily by a fly buzzing around her face, Chris is slightly lower to notice the pair and slaps a moment after Will.
"Heh, wewl done. I fink yer go' dat one, Wiwl." Retracting her paw again she winks at the mink.
"Sorry, I di'n't mean t' scare yer. It's no' actually chopping people, i' j'st looks like it. Nobody really ge's 'urt. Tha' said, yer shouldn't try any ov da fings yer migh' see in my show because dey can be very dangerous if dey're done wrong. Card tricks an' wo'not are fine bu' some of th' escapes an' illusions could send yer t' the vets or worse if yer don' know wot yer doin'. Acsh'lly, I fink I 'ave..." Chris rummages in her bag and then pulls out a photograph of her and Derek performing a trick which she passes to Will. Derek is dressed in a top hat and cloak and leaning on what appears to be a stack of three boxes. Chris's hindpaws and legs are visible in the bottom box and her head and shoulders are visible in the top box which is aligned with the bottom box but the middle box which contains her torso and middle would appear to be shifted impossibly far to the left, seemingly splitting her body into three sections.
"Dat's my dad an' me and dat's one o' our choppin' tricks. Quite simple, really, bu' effective, I fink."

hypernovatic · Post by **hypernovatic** » Wed Jun 04, 2014 8:24 pm

"Good job Will." Matatabi said. He looked at the photo. "Wow! That's cool!"

xhunterko · Post by **xhunterko** » Wed Jun 04, 2014 8:27 pm

"Neat trick," Ellsward said on the photo, laying down a jack of diamonds, "You use mirrors or something?"

Pecan · Post by **Pecan** » Wed Jun 04, 2014 10:22 pm

Will's heart continued to relax as he saw the picture. Okay, it's just an illusion, he thought to himself, as he handed the picture back. "That l-looks really complicated," he said aloud, as he gathered the cards from the middle. "Wh-who's turn is i-it now?"

Post by **Hlaoroo** » Thu Jun 05, 2014 10:49 am

"I fink its yer go again, Will, since yer slapped. An mate," she grins, turning to Ellsward with a wink.
"A magician never reveals 'er secrets. We'd be 'appy t' do a show fer yer dough, if yer ever need ennertainment fer anyfink."

--------------------
Turning back into their driveway, Scotty and Frances wonder if the pandas are still up in their roof. They glance overhead as they approach their porch, wondering how their "guard dogs" will react.

valerio · Post by **valerio** » Thu Jun 05, 2014 1:03 pm

Hlaoroo wrote:Turning back into their driveway, Scotty and Frances wonder if the pandas are still up in their roof. They glance overhead as they approach their porch, wondering how their "guard dogs" will react.

A honk from a clacson announced, at last, the coming of the movers' van. And an old pea-green Sedan was accompanying the van.
The van stopped in front of Frances' house. the Sedan did the same, and out came a couple of young men in their twenties, two blond guys with short-cropped hair, a good tan and jeans overalls.
"Ma'm" one of them said. "We've been told you needed a hand moving your stuff in, is that right?"

xhunterko · Post by **xhunterko** » Thu Jun 05, 2014 2:02 pm

The honk nearly caused Vinnie, who had just climbed out of the vent, to ALMOST drop a large card board box.

"HEY! Watch it with the noise! This stuff's expensive here! Oh, hello ma'am we're almost done," Vinnie said, "There's only two left."

"We'd be done by NOW if you let me get the others!" Sonjah said to him in reply.

"Oh SHUSH you," Vinnie said. Sonjah stuck her tongue out at him. Below them on the ground, was a red wagon with a half dozen card and board games.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Actually it's Blay's," Ellsward said, pointing to the card he put down earlier, "The game just keeps going." He explained.

"If it IS, shouldn't YOU not be taking another turn?" Chealzeyard said. Ellsward quickly swiped his card back and put it under the pile.

"Sorry," Ellsward says.

"He loves his cards," Chealzeyard said.

SuperStar · Post by **SuperStar** » Fri Jun 06, 2014 8:59 am

Blay quickly placed down 7 of Spades. "All right! Metal Trilobite!" Blay exclaimed, rather loudly for him. He quickly noticed what he said, and backed down. "Sorry.... It's a- Never mind.... You wouldn't get it." He said kind of quietly.

OOC: He's referencing Kamen Rider Blade.

Post by **Hlaoroo** » Sat Jun 07, 2014 1:13 am

Chris flips over the five of spades.
"Ain't a trilobite one o' dose sea creature fings from da time of da dinosaurs?" she queries, not being familiar with the game Blay was referencing.

--------------------
"Yes, please. That would be lovely. It's a lot for one person to deal with." While Frances begins dealing with the "movers" and organising the transfer of their stuff from truck to house, Scotty wheels himself over to the pandas.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" yells his tablet and Scotty, blushing, claps his paw over the speaker to quieten it and hurriedly turns the volume down.
"Sorry, forgot I had it turned up. What are you two doing? We didn't say you had to leave." he queries with a questioning look at the duo on the roof.