HPU - Richmond Acres

[Hlaoroo]

"Yeah, that doesn't sound quite right." Joan agrees, taking hold of the trolley again.
"Maybe try sounding it out?" she encourages, leading the way into the next aisle.

~~~~~~~~
"Speak with who? Flash? I have no clue where he is at the moment. He's a wild mouse and never told me exactly where he lives. He helped rescue me though. You'd probably have more chance of finding him than me, since you know other local wild mice." Piper tells Chip before smiling sadly at the skunk's innocent antics.
"Indeed, Oreo. You're already armed and dangerous as it is. Here, catch." she agrees, tossing the skunk one of Chip's bite-sized Not-Choc chip cookies.

~~~~~~~~
Shielding it from view of the students with her boy, Shona gives Eldrick a nod and a little victory fist-pump before ushering him into the classroom.
"Excellent. So. What's your plan for the afternoon?" she asks as the students take their seats.

~~~~~~~~

Granule shook his head and got back in the game. Tracks, watching the pair, talked sideways to Ed. "If she's not old enough for boyfriends, I think she's made an older brother."

"Heh. I don't think she has a clue what a boyfriend is yet. An older brother would be good for her though. An older sister too, come to think of it. The question is, do you think Granule will be a good influence? Or do we need to find someone to balance him out?" Ed asks Tracks with a cheeky grin.

~~~~~~~~
Flynn fishes the mouse out of his sling and sits him on his shoulder before fishing out the walking stick and passing it up. He grins as he watches Nadia, realising what's coming.
"EEEEHEEHEEHEHEEHEEHEEHEEHEEHEEEEEE!" cackles the witch, springing up as Nadia triggers the motion sensor again.

~~~~~~~~
Simon shrugs.
"Sit if you want. I ain't gonna tell you want to do." he acquiesces.
"Wouldn't end well for me if I tried." he adds under his breath.

~~~~~~~~
"You can lean on me if you like. That way I can see how stable you are. Er, just as long as you keep your claws sheathed. Otherwise I'm sure I can find you a stick or maybe a walker in the storeroom. Which would you rather?" Paul asks Chris.

[Keeshah]

"Speak with who? Flash? I have no clue where he is at the moment. He's a wild mouse and never told me exactly where he lives. He helped rescue me though. You'd probably have more chance of finding him than me, since you know other local wild mice." Piper tells Chip before smiling sadly at the skunk's innocent antics.
"Indeed, Oreo. You're already armed and dangerous as it is. Here, catch." she agrees, tossing the skunk one of Chip's bite-sized Not-Choc chip cookies.

But i don't have any guns.. "CHRIP"
He yelps, as the cookie bounces off his nose, sending him scrambling across the floor after it.

[CyberDragon]

"Rights, yeah," the Rat explained, feeding a cable through his hands and resisting the urge to bite. "but rules go wif 'em. Gotta be in it to work, lil' guy." He smirked. "AN' yer got that right. Fing is, it's easier f'r us t' on occasion unionize 'cause we're not cov'r'd by Human rules. F'r them, Unions're frowned on." He fixed the wire up to the console.
"Humans are weird..." Juniper said, smirking as she knew the reaction from Sally.
"Hey," the girl protested.
"...but I like them," the Mouse finished, as though she'd always meant to.

"I..." Flash considered what he was told. He didn't really like the idea of working some mundane job for for the rest of his life, but he had to admit the idea that he could finally be considered an actual person, the idea that he no longer would need to worry about one day having some cat or fox get lucky. He'd have some degree of protection, recognition that he was more than just really fast food for predators, be it legally or from some kind of employer.

Then again... he's already sort of a part-time pet. If he just lived with Juniper and Sally and their family, wouldn't that offer the same?

"I'll... think about it." Flash said finally. "I'm good at building things, and I'm really fast. Not sure what job that would help with other than maybe what you guys are doing."

-----------------

"Ah, let him sit," Nola asked of Simon. "Maybe he can tell us how a mighty Bear becomes friends with a Mouse?

Simon shrugs.
"Sit if you want. I ain't gonna tell you want to do." he acquiesces.
"Wouldn't end well for me if I tried." he adds under his breath.

Deus looks over to Simon, waiting for his approval.

"As said. If you want me leave, I leave."

When he gets the approval, he nods, then sits down with a heavy thud on the grass across from the other two.

"If... you interested. Can share." the bear shrugged. "Know flash since cub. I was only cub. I live in same cave whole life. One day, mother and father leave cave. Hear two loud sound, like thunder but sky was clear. Parents not come back."

Deus paused for a moment, looking down, breaking eye contact to focus on something in the grass. He sighed and shook his head, then moved on. "Two days. Then flash show up. Scared. Alone like me. He seek shelter from rain. He hide from me at first, but we speak. He not have colony, not have parents. Described strange place, with strange and tall creatures in long white coverings. He find I not have food in two days. Find I alone. He tell of places with much food, and when rain gone he take me there."

Deus smirked lightly. "I barely keep up. flash very fast even as young mouse. He not know slowing down. But he show me food place. Later I turn it to orchard. He show me scavenge place, and we get discarded burger. He know where go, and happy share with me. In turn, I keep safe from danger, but we not know that needed then. Flash just help because... that who Flash is. That how Flash always is."

-----------------

"You can lean on me if you like. That way I can see how stable you are. Er, just as long as you keep your claws sheathed. Otherwise I'm sure I can find you a stick or maybe a walker in the storeroom. Which would you rather?" Paul asks Chris.

"Uh... walker? Um... those are like those four-legged stand things, right? I've seen older humans use them." Chris said. "Um, I'd rather use one of those. If I stand up and something hurts, I don't want to scratch you by accident..."

[SeanWolf]

Shielding it from view of the students with her boy, Shona gives Eldrick a nod and a little victory fist-pump before ushering him into the classroom.
"Excellent. So. What's your plan for the afternoon?" she asks as the students take their seats.

Mr. Nightshade gave Shona a smile. "Oh, something simple but something that I think will really get the kid's attention." He turned his attention then to the class and clapped his paws twice to get his new students attention. "I have a question for everyone here." He began as he took a seat on the nearby counter. "Who here can tell me...what a Legend is?"

[Serence Frostbite]

Flynn fishes the mouse out of his sling and sits him on his shoulder before fishing out the walking stick and passing it up. He grins as he watches Nadia, realising what's coming.
"EEEEHEEHEEHEHEEHEEHEEHEEHEEHEEEEEE!" cackles the witch, springing up as Nadia triggers the motion sensor again.

Nadia Immediately punched the witch's head, knocking it backward
"This is why I don't like Halloween" She sighed

[Welsh Halfwit]

"Err... Lickwid. Liquid," Leslie said excitedly, making a lady start with surprise. "Sorry," he said, cringing.
--------------------------------
"I believe you know I meant your dad, Piper," Chip said, almost cheekily, before laughing sweetly at Oreo. "Reactions like greased lightning, this one!"
--------------------------------
Nola sighed. "Looks like you're in the same place as all of us, Deus." She squeezed Simon's hand. "Tragedy with friends thrown in later."
--------------------------------
The Rat looked Flash over before getting back to work with the finishing touches. "Y'd be good as a cabl' runn'r," he conceded. "Humes'll be ready t' test their door in ten. Round 'bout same 'ere." He clomped back to work.
Sally spoke to the foreman. "Um, I didn't know Rats wore boots,"
"Regulations, Sally. Same as his hat. Building site. Everyone gets a hard hat... that he's not wearing... and steel toecap boots. Even the Rats. Took him a week to learn how to lace them, didn't it?"
Everyone except Juniper noted the Rats response.
--------------------------------
"And that's a good response, My dear," Kilo remarked as the head flew. "Especially as they're known for fraternising with our Feline fiends..."
------------------------------
"I think it's more that she'll balance HIM out" Tracks pointed out, indicating where, in a lull in the game, Granule was trying to teach Olivia 'Pattycake'.

[Keeshah]

"I believe you know I meant your dad, Piper," Chip said, almost cheekily, before laughing sweetly at Oreo. "Reactions like greased lightning, this one!"

Oreo pops up covered in dust bunnies...
How do you grease Lightning? it would be all over and going KA'Boom!!! before you could ever get the jar o' grease opened?

[Hlaoroo]

"It's just an expression, Oreo." Piper smiles, "It means you're really fast, even faster than lightning."
The rabbit finishes her cookie and drink and then clambers onto her feet.
"Well, Chip, if you want to talk to Dad then let's go find him. He's probably gone back to the workshop." she says, leading the small group of pets out of the apartment and onto the stairs.

~~~~~~~~
"Liquid! Well done! Let's go find it!" Joan enthuses.
"Hmm. Do you have a favourite scent, Leslie? They often come in apple or lemon. Sometimes others depending on the brand."

~~~~~~~~
Simon sits quietly, unsure what to say to the bear but unable to look away due to the foam collar keeping his head still. Eventually he sighs.
"You're lucky to have him..." he says simply.

~~~~~~~~
"I appreciate that." Paul smiles at the cougar before fetching the lightweight metal frame and unfolding it.
"All right, here you go. Just take it slowly. No rush. Let me know if you feel faint or sore at all."

~~~~~~~~
One of the kids raises their hand and proclaims themselves a legend, prompting much laughter from the other kids.
"I know." Kip says, raising his paw once the laughter has subsided.
"Legends are like Robin Hood! Famous people that did stuff that they tell stories about."

~~~~~~~~
Flynn laughs at Nadia's reaction before going to fetch the witch's head.
"Well, I guess we just bought a witch." he says.
"No, no, you're fine. Don't worry. This one was already broken. The fox ain't the first customer to react like that." assures a worker, helping Flynn reseat the head.
The rabbit then starts raking his claws through Nadia's fur, trying to flatten it down again.
"Take a few deep breaths, honey. You look like you stuck your finger in a powerpoint."

~~~~~~~~
Olivia is amusing herself with the new game, every now and again "accidentally" missing the bigger kit's paw and trying to boop his nose with an open paw.
"Heh, well, either way they're definitely going to be inseparable." Ed agrees, watching his daughter giggling.

~~~~~~~~
"Ark ark ark ark ark!" comes a croaky laugh from the branch of a maple tree near the new gate. It's the crow that had previously accosted Oreo. Having gotten bored of the talking he'd flown out the window of the apartment and his attention had been caught by the reflective strips on the workers' hi-vis clothing.
"I thought I'd seen it all before but I was wrong, yes I was! First a skunk that thinks he's a pet and now a rat that thinks he's hyooman! And he's got attitude! Ark ark ark ark ark! This is a good place though. Lots of shinies here! Not eating shinies, no, but nice shinies for the nest, yes!" he says, examining a silvery washer he's clutching in one claw.

[Welsh Halfwit]

"Well, we'll see if we can soothe his troubled brow, ey, Piper," Chip offered, wondering where Potato had gotten to. Her brother had been quiet too long...
-----------------------------------
Nola reached out and squeezed Simon's hand sympathetically. "You have people now, if you want, Simon," she told him. "Two Humans, a Mouse and a Cat. Kinda mad," she agreed with a sly wink, "but you have us."
----------------------------------
Sally looked up, shielding her eyes so she could see who was talking. "Hello, Mister Crow," she said, feeling Juniper try to hide from the bird. "I presume you're not here to hurt anyone?"
"Ain't tryin' to be one," the rat called. "Tryin' to work with 'em so I don't get stomped on, birdbrain."
---------------------------------
Kilo could feel the static...
---------------------------------
"Well, there's lots of family here," Tracks said as Granule tapped Olivia on the nose with a finger. He shoulder hugged Ed. "IThey're just waiting on you to find them."
--------------------------------
ALmost skipping, Leslie led the way to the cleaning aisle as a human wandered by muttering "what do Foxes eat to himself.
"Chikuns, Mistur," he said helpfully. "And R... no, no. Just Chikuns," he added.
The Human looked down at the happy looking kitten. "Um, thanks," he said, heading off.
"No problem," Leslie called. "I lyke helping!"

[CyberDragon]

Simon sits quietly, unsure what to say to the bear but unable to look away due to the foam collar keeping his head still. Eventually he sighs.
"You're lucky to have him..." he says simply.

"Yes." Deus nodded. "Not know half. See."

Deus pointed up at the round bullet-sized scar on his forehead.

"Poacher. Big gun. Shot. Bounced off. Aimed again, pull trigger, but trigger have rock jammed in." Deus started. "Flash jam trigger. Then take old nail-sword. Jump up. Blind poacher. We run."

"I... difficult speak since. Think fine. Speak not. Still, I alive because him."

-----------------------------------------

"Ark ark ark ark ark!" comes a croaky laugh from the branch of a maple tree near the new gate. It's the crow that had previously accosted Oreo. Having gotten bored of the talking he'd flown out the window of the apartment and his attention had been caught by the reflective strips on the workers' hi-vis clothing.
"I thought I'd seen it all before but I was wrong, yes I was! First a skunk that thinks he's a pet and now a rat that thinks he's hyooman! And he's got attitude! Ark ark ark ark ark! This is a good place though. Lots of shinies here! Not eating shinies, no, but nice shinies for the nest, yes!" he says, examining a silvery washer he's clutching in one claw.

Flash saw the crow and immediately felt adrenaline flow. In a blink, the mouse had Juniper by the hand, holding her behind him. He looked around for any potential weapon. He saw a box of nails, and resolved to go for it if he needed to. "You stay in your tree, bird! No sudden movements, I'm warning you..."

-----------------------------------------

"I appreciate that." Paul smiles at the cougar before fetching the lightweight metal frame and unfolding it.
"All right, here you go. Just take it slowly. No rush. Let me know if you feel faint or sore at all."

"...Thanks..." Chris said. He put his hands on each handle of the walker, and dangled his legs over the edge of the bed. Very slowly and carefully, he slid into position, before shifting his weight over his feet. He stumbled and had to sit back down a couple of times, but eventually he was able to stand up. Once he felt he was stable, he took his first step.

[SeanWolf]

One of the kids raises their hand and proclaims themselves a legend, prompting much laughter from the other kids.
"I know." Kip says, raising his paw once the laughter has subsided.
"Legends are like Robin Hood! Famous people that did stuff that they tell stories about."

Mr. Nightshade couldn't help but laugh as well. "Well, you're not entirely wrong there! Someday, you may very well be one!" He said to the bright youngster as he looked over at Kip. "And you're right as well, Kip; Robin Hood is considered a legend and he has many stories written about him, along with thousands of other legends in the world. From King Arthur to Beowulf to the gods of Olympus, the amount of legends out there is amazing." He sat on his desk. "However, you kids know those stories, right? King Arthur wielding Excalibur, Perseus slaying the mighty Kraken? I want to use this lesson - my first - to focus on a different type of legend: Modern Day Legends. Legends who make a name for themselves in our world and lifetime. Legends who do things we could only wish we could do. Now, I could go and talk about a ton of examples, but we're going to focus on one that I think you kids will get a kick out of: How many of you kids like racing?"

[Serence Frostbite]

Flynn laughs at Nadia's reaction before going to fetch the witch's head.
"Well, I guess we just bought a witch." he says.
"No, no, you're fine. Don't worry. This one was already broken. The fox ain't the first customer to react like that." assures a worker, helping Flynn reseat the head.
The rabbit then starts raking his claws through Nadia's fur, trying to flatten it down again.
"Take a few deep breaths, honey. You look like you stuck your finger in a powerpoint."

"Huh? Oh....yeah , ha, sorry" Nadia replied, trying to laugh it of but was obviously embarrassed by what just happened.

Kilo could feel the static...

"I still haven't gotten used to those.... things......uhm......you ok Kilo?"

Josh, meanwhile, was staying behind, watching the pet group with an amused grin on his face

[Keeshah]

"Ark ark ark ark ark!" comes a croaky laugh from the branch of a maple tree near the new gate. It's the crow that had previously accosted Oreo. Having gotten bored of the talking he'd flown out the window of the apartment and his attention had been caught by the reflective strips on the workers' hi-vis clothing.
"I thought I'd seen it all before but I was wrong, yes I was! First a skunk that thinks he's a pet and now a rat that thinks he's hyooman! And he's got attitude! Ark ark ark ark ark! This is a good place though. Lots of shinies here! Not eating shinies, no, but nice shinies for the nest, yes!" he says, examining a silvery washer he's clutching in one claw.

Flash saw the crow and immediately felt adrenaline flow. In a blink, the mouse had Juniper by the hand, holding her behind him. He looked around for any potential weapon. He saw a box of nails, and resolved to go for it if he needed to. "You stay in your tree, bird! No sudden movements, I'm warning you..."

Oreo bolts to the window ..
Yea git gone bird. No stealing prey around here..
Looking around at the faces looking at him..
I mean No eating the pets around here.!!

[Hlaoroo]

"Heh. Come on, Oreo. I'm sure, when you get big you'll look after all the, uh, prey pets, right?" Piper encourages, leading the way out of the room.
"To be honest, Chip... I may have to let you do the talking. This really shook me up too." Piper admits, stopping on the top stair and looking at the mouse on her paw.
"Don't get me wrong - I definitely don't want guns around - but still..."

~~~~~~~~
Simon swallows, feeling a sudden kinship with the bear. He hesitates a moment before speaking, a faraway look in his eyes.
"I... Also have experience running from guns..." he admits without elaborating.
"You were lucky to get away..." The fox's tone suggests there's more to his story that he's not saying. Internally he wonders if the bear will understand or if he'll be forced to say it.

~~~~~~~~
"Ark ark ark! Don't wanna get stomped on? Then just avoid hyoomans. Stay away from big, clumping boots! Easy peasy! No need to pretend like you're hyooman! Ark ark ark!" the crow laughs at the rat before Flash speaks.
"Hmm?" the bird asks, squinting down at the mouse and suddenly looking uncomfortable.
"Oh. It's you. No problems here, no, ark. We all know you have a bear. Is the bear around?" the bird asks, nervously peering into the yard and down the street.

~~~~~~~~
The shoulder hug may have been a bad idea because it causes Harry to become dislodged and tumble from Ed's arms. With a lunge, the dad catches his son again, the babe upside-down with his head a whisker above the ground.
"Wheeee! 'Gain! 'Gain!" the pup giggles, clapping his tiny paws.
"Hoo. Huuh. No, no. I think once was enough, buddy." Ed answers, his heart in his throat as he sets Harry on the ground. The pup sucks his thumb a few times, looking around him, and then plops onto his backside and picks up a pair of pebbles which he proceeds to fly around the air and scoot along the floor while making engine noises.

~~~~~~~~
"Helping people is great, Leslie." Joan encourages.
"Just remember what I said earlier about stranger danger though." she reminds, placing the dish soap into her cart, and then after a moment's thought, following it up with some small pet-sized gloves, thinking that Leslie might enjoy helping with some baking.
"What's your favourite kind of cookie, Leslie?"

~~~~~~~~
Paul watches the cougar carefully.
"Good. You're doing well. How do you feel? Any faintness or pain?" he asks.

~~~~~~~~
"Heh. You know, honey, if you're not comfortable with Halloween then we don't have to do it." Flynn offers, giving the fox an out just in case.
"Also, uh... I think Josh just got that on video. How do you feel about being famous on YouTube?" the buck grins.

~~~~~~~~
Several of the kids put their hands up. One mentions that their dad likes watching the horses. Another expounds on the virtues of the bobsleds at the Olympics.

[Welsh Halfwit]

Chip seemed a little unsure of herself but tried to sound confident for Piper's sake. "Well, OK..." She twiddled her thumbs. "I'll do what I can..."
---------------------------------------
"Yeah," Nola agreed, leaving it unclear if it was approval or not, "that one's quite a mouse." She looked Simon in the eye. "You OK, hun?"
-------------------------------------
"Ain't pretending, Featherbrain, the Workrat replied, "and I was born 'ere, in this city. Ain't movin' simply 'cause these Humans are everywhere." He gets back to work.
Juniper whispered to Flash that Deus was somewhere close.
----------------------------------
"Sorry about that," Tracks admitted, a little sheepishly.
----------------------------------
"Um..." Leslie thought, putting a clawtip to his teeth, "Carot cookies," he said uncertainly, thinking of the ones Aron and Vera had insisted on making.
---------------------------------
"Oh, I'm good, my dear," Kilo admitted, wondering if he needed to comb his fur for online stardom.

[Keeshah]

"Heh. Come on, Oreo. I'm sure, when you get big you'll look after all the, uh, prey pets, right?" Piper encourages, leading the way out of the room.
"To be honest, Chip... I may have to let you do the talking. This really shook me up too." Piper admits, stopping on the top stair and looking at the mouse on her paw.
"Don't get me wrong - I definitely don't want guns around - but still..."

i am big now!
does that mean i'll get to have a gun too!!
hopping up and down excitedly

[Serence Frostbite]

"Heh. You know, honey, if you're not comfortable with Halloween then we don't have to do it." Flynn offers, giving the fox an out just in case.

"No no dear, I'm alright, no worries" Nadia lets out a small chuckle to lighten up the mood "I just haven't gotten used to it is all"

"Also, uh... I think Josh just got that on video. How do you feel about being famous on YouTube?" the buck grins.

The vixen and the man stared at each other for a few seconds, then, with a "nope!" from Josh, it turned into a chaotic chase scene, until she managed to tackle him to the ground
"Flynn ! Catch!" Josh shouted as he tossed his phone at the rabbit

[CyberDragon]

Simon swallows, feeling a sudden kinship with the bear. He hesitates a moment before speaking, a faraway look in his eyes.
"I... Also have experience running from guns..." he admits without elaborating.
"You were lucky to get away..." The fox's tone suggests there's more to his story that he's not saying. Internally he wonders if the bear will understand or if he'll be forced to say it.

Deus grunted in agreement, giving the fox a knowing look. But the bear did not pry further.

- - - - - - - - - -

"Ark ark ark! Don't wanna get stomped on? Then just avoid hyoomans. Stay away from big, clumping boots! Easy peasy! No need to pretend like you're hyooman! Ark ark ark!" the crow laughs at the rat before Flash speaks.
"Hmm?" the bird asks, squinting down at the mouse and suddenly looking uncomfortable.
"Oh. It's you. No problems here, no, ark. We all know you have a bear. Is the bear around?" the bird asks, nervously peering into the yard and down the street.

"Ain't pretending, Featherbrain, the Workrat replied, "and I was born 'ere, in this city. Ain't movin' simply 'cause these Humans are everywhere." He gets back to work.
Juniper whispered to Flash that Deus was somewhere close.

"The Bear.." Flash started, still glaring warily at the crow, "Is named Deus. And he's always around. He's got a sense of where I am at all times, and has a habit of showing up the moment I need him. So don't make me need him." he finished, warningly.

- - - - - - - - - -

Paul watches the cougar carefully.
"Good. You're doing well. How do you feel? Any faintness or pain?" he asks.

"No faintness..." Chris winced. "There's a lot of soreness. Stiffness. Kind of hurts to put weight on my legs like this."

[SeanWolf]

Several of the kids put their hands up. One mentions that their dad likes watching the horses. Another expounds on the virtues of the bobsleds at the Olympics.

Mr. Nightshade smiled at the enthusiasm from the kids. "That was a very lovely lesson about bobsleds, thank you! But that's not the type of racing, and, for that matter, legends. we're going to be talking about." He said as he sat on the ledge of his desk. "No, the legends we're be discussing drive a different horse; one of steel and chrome and can hit top speeds of 300 miles per hour. Legends that face life and death everyday, all for the same goal: That fabled checkered flag. For my first lesson? We're going to be talking about race car legends." He noticed a few of the students go wide eyed, with one almost smiling (Eldrick had a strong feeling that this one knew about what they were going to be discussing). "Let me begin with this: Who here ever seen a race car?"

[Hlaoroo]

"You don't need one, Oreo. You have your own built-in squirt gun." Piper reminds the skunk before knocking on the door of Richard's office and leading the group in.

"Oh. Hi, everyone. What's up?" the old man asks, setting aside a notebook with a column of numbers and a pile of receipts.

"Well, uh... Chip?" Piper prompts.

~~~~~~~~
"Yup." Simon says, maybe slightly too fast.
"So... What now?"

~~~~~~~~
"It's okay. No harm done." Ed assures Tracks.

Over with the other pups, Olivia had jumped up on seeing Harry's tumble but has relaxed and rejoined the game seeing that he's okay.

"So, what other family were you thinking of introducing us to?" Ed asks Tracks.

~~~~~~~~
"Hmm. Are you sure that wasn't Aron's favourite and not yours?" Joan asks Leslie.

~~~~~~~~
As Flynn fumbles to catch the phone he stumbles backwards against the shelf, which wobbles and upends one of the containers of "fairy dust" onto his head. Unfortunately this one had a loose lid, the result of some customer investigating the contents, so the buck, and probably the mouse on his shoulder, end up covered in sparking glitter. The surprise causes the rabbit to drop the phone which, fortunately, bounces off his foot before hitting the floor so it's not damaged aside from becoming much more sparkly.

The buck shakes his head to clear the pile of glitter off his muzzle and away from his eyes before looking down at himself.
"Welp. That's never coming out of my fur ever again." A grin spreads over his face as he looks at Nadia.
"Hey, honey. Come here and give me a hug!" he teases, approaching the fox with open arm.

~~~~~~~~
"Ark! Don't worry! Don't worry! I don't want no trouble! I'm just here for shinies!" the crow reiterates.
"Hmm. You got any shinies? The human has a nice shiny in her headfeathers." he adds, looking at Sally.

~~~~~~~~
"Hmm. Where exactly does it hurt?" Paul asks.
"Do you mind if I feel your legs a bit? I'll just squeeze gently in a few places to make sure nothing is broken or torn. I doubt it is because you're standing and walking but it'll give me an idea if there's anything that needs further investgation. Tell me if anything hurts when I do." The vet waits for Chris to grant permission before approaching.

~~~~~~~~
One of the children informs Eldrick that they went to a NASCAR race last summer. Another mentions that their grandfather has "a super awesome Ford A Racecar from, like, two hundred years ago in the probishun. 'Coz Grandpa's really old. But he still likes to drive it fast! And it has no seatbelts so it's super fun to ride in!", not quite pronouncing "prohibition" right.

Another child raises their hand but before they can speak they're interrupted by a loud wail and flashing light from a red box mounted high on the wall. From further down the corridor a bell can be heard ringing.
"That's the fire alarm!" Shona calls to Eldrick over the noise as she grabs the class list and hi-viz vest hanging on the wall and passes them to the teacher.

[Keeshah]

"You don't need one, Oreo. You have your own built-in squirt gun." Piper reminds the skunk before knocking on the door of Richard's office and leading the group in.

"Oh. Hi, everyone. What's up?" the old man asks, setting aside a notebook with a column of numbers and a pile of receipts.

"Well, uh... Chip?" Piper prompts.
Yeah.. But everyone doesn't want me to use it. not to mention it takes a week to recharge..

[Welsh Halfwit]

"OK," Chip said, standing forward. "Uh, we, um, know you're considering getting 'protection', Richard." She looked at him, all the concern showing on her face. "but, um, w...would you use it? Would you learn how to use and store it safely? It...it's a lot of stress, Richard." She smiled weakly. "more... more than a few locks and tracking systems?"
-------------------------------------------
Nola sighed politely. "We eat," she told them. "We live. And we try to make it better, eh? In our own, little, ways." She squeezed Simon's free hand again. "Three of us on the comeback trail, hmm?"
------------------------------------------
Sally's eyes scrolled up to try and see what was on her head. Then remembered she had the clip in her hair. "As a gesture of friendship," she said, putting the tray down so she could take it from her hair and offer it to the bird.
"Blimmin' Humans and Birdbrains," the workrat complained, getting back to work.
----------------------------------------
"I think it's time to visit the schoolroom," Tracks said, making half of the younglings vanish on cue. Making sure Granule and Olivia followed them, Granule offering Olivia his hand, the leader led the way to a small sub hole where a small slate paddle had been put against a wall and matchbooks had been made into desks. Tracks indicated a youthful Female Mouse with tiny glasses that were obviously taken from a toy. Watt leaned up to whisper. "I managed to mine and cut the glass, what, what.."
"Ed, Olivia, this is Miss Julia Simmins. The Schoolma'am." He grinned as she glared at him.
-----------------------------------------
"I wanted a glittering career," Kilo commented before getting to a safe place.
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Leslie looked at Joan with mock offence. "Cats kan lyke carrots too," he protested, grinning. "A bit..."
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[CyberDragon]

"Yup." Simon says, maybe slightly too fast.
"So... What now?"

Nola sighed politely. "We eat," she told them. "We live. And we try to make it better, eh? In our own, little, ways." She squeezed Simon's free hand again. "Three of us on the comeback trail, hmm?"

Deus simply nodded. He picked up his own fish and bit into it, eating the whole thing in two bites.

Wiping his muzzle, he decided to break the silence a bit. "Got job in town. Bouncer, at bar. Think good fit. Might mean see me in town occasion."

--------------------

"Ark! Don't worry! Don't worry! I don't want no trouble! I'm just here for shinies!" the crow reiterates.
"Hmm. You got any shinies? The human has a nice shiny in her headfeathers." he adds, looking at Sally.

"Good. Good..." Flash said warily, still eying the bird.

Sally's eyes scrolled up to try and see what was on her head. Then remembered she had the clip in her hair. "As a gesture of friendship," she said, putting the tray down so she could take it from her hair and offer it to the bird.
"Blimmin' Humans and Birdbrains," the workrat complained, getting back to work.

"You hoping he'll come back for more?" Flash asked Sally, considering whether or not having a reoccurring crow around would be a problem or not. This bird didn't seem interested in causing trouble...

"Well, if you do want to be a 'friend' around here, you'll eventually meet Deus. He's amicable as long as you are."

--------------------

"Hmm. Where exactly does it hurt?" Paul asks.
"Do you mind if I feel your legs a bit? I'll just squeeze gently in a few places to make sure nothing is broken or torn. I doubt it is because you're standing and walking but it'll give me an idea if there's anything that needs further investgation. Tell me if anything hurts when I do." The vet waits for Chris to grant permission before approaching.

"Well..." Chris said, sitting down on the bed for a moment. "The bear launched me into a tree and I caught a branch between the legs on the way down. I'd rather not have any squeezing in that general area, thanks. Inner thighs just feel really stiff and sore. Doesn't feel like I tore anything, just feels like a lot of bruising and muscular stiffness."

[Serence Frostbite]

As Flynn fumbles to catch the phone he stumbles backwards against the shelf, which wobbles and upends one of the containers of "fairy dust" onto his head. Unfortunately this one had a loose lid, the result of some customer investigating the contents, so the buck, and probably the mouse on his shoulder, end up covered in sparking glitter. The surprise causes the rabbit to drop the phone which, fortunately, bounces off his foot before hitting the floor so it's not damaged aside from becoming much more sparkly.

"I wanted a glittering career," Kilo commented before getting to a safe place.

"Oh dear, that's......probably not good" Josh half laughed, with Nadia's paws still around his neck, as they looked at the sparkling bunny and rat.
"You're paying for that" she told her human like it's a done deal.

The buck shakes his head to clear the pile of glitter off his muzzle and away from his eyes before looking down at himself.
"Welp. That's never coming out of my fur ever again." A grin spreads over his face as he looks at Nadia.
"Hey, honey. Come here and give me a hug!" he teases, approaching the fox with open arm.

"erm, you look lovely dear, but probably not right now?" the vixen laughed nervously, getting off of Josh to back away from her now sparkling boyfriend.

[Keeshah]

Kandi takes a long hot shower.
Then brushes out her cougar before heading off to bed..
You must really be stressed Senka, just look at more much your sheding!

[SeanWolf]

One of the children informs Eldrick that they went to a NASCAR race last summer. Another mentions that their grandfather has "a super awesome Ford A Racecar from, like, two hundred years ago in the probishun. 'Coz Grandpa's really old. But he still likes to drive it fast! And it has no seatbelts so it's super fun to ride in!", not quite pronouncing "prohibition" right.

Another child raises their hand but before they can speak they're interrupted by a loud wail and flashing light from a red box mounted high on the wall. From further down the corridor a bell can be heard ringing.
"That's the fire alarm!" Shona calls to Eldrick over the noise as she grabs the class list and hi-viz vest hanging on the wall and passes them to the teacher.

"Alright everyone, you know what to do!" Mr. Nightshade spoke as he put the vest on, something he never had to do at his old teaching job (Must be a new thing, he thought). Leading the children out, he leaned over to Shona. "Saw your face when I mentioned cars...when we come back in, I'll change the subject to something a bit easier on the kids heh." He chuckled as they walked outside.