❪ introlog: #6 ❫ city of secrets

[natha]

You've spent the last few days on Thesa Station, taking in the knowledge that your world is no more. Now, the time to put all your survival training into practice has arrived: El Nysa needs you, and you're here to help the planet thrive. Are you ready? THE DESCENT     All refugees on the station are called to the hangar, where a large-scale teleporter awaits. Simply step onto the space between the arrays and wait; everyone will be sent down to the planet together. Before they depart, all refugees will be given a cold weather survival kit with warm clothing, rations, and bedding. The arrays build into a brilliant wash of light, creating a column that travels all the way from Thesa Station to the surface of El Nysa, teleporting the refugees to the planet on an aurora. Once on the planet's surface, refugees receive one last message from Darma. It has been a long, perilous year for you, refugees. And yet we must ask you to brave further peril. Within Nadril are the secrets to how poor Ysverai's revival was hidden from our sight and how this disaster has come to our star. Find the first refugee from beyond this planet, a man named Magda. He will not speak to us, for much has come between us, but to you… If you prove yourselves, he may be willing to answer your questions. We beseech you, for there is a veil over Nadril that hides all within from us. There may yet be more untold dangers waiting to befall this planet. For the good of all who make this world home, we ask you to lend us your aid. There is yet one more favor we would ask of you. In warding off the Storm's encroachment, the physical aspect of ourselves that you call Thesa Station was damaged. We must remain to continue repairs to El Nysa and to deal with Ysverai, but there should be suitable technology within Nadril that could be used for spare parts. If you have the chance to find it and can return it to us, it would hasten— Darma's message crackles with static, another image overlaying hers — her broadcast is cut off and replaced with another. A more sullen and alien voice takes Darma’s place, overlapping on itself in an ominous reveal. It has been a long, perilous year for you, refugees. And yet you’ve only just arrived here. To say I’m not disappointed in your… generation would be to lie, and I am nothing if not an honest creature. But I suppose these have been unusual circumstances. You must ask yourself this — are you only here as Darma's lapdogs? I can assure you, it's not worth being on the Natha's leash. With time, that will be something you'll have to learn for yourself. If you're so determined to come find Nadril, then follow the path north, and you'll find the border. What awaits you is revelation, if you're up to the challenge. A FROZEN LAND     The refugees land on a literally frozen world, both in temperature and time. Curls of icy wind hold swirls of snow aloft and an uncanny silence is broken only by the crunch of hoarfrost underfoot. Only Darma's protection allows the refugees to move through this frozen world — and movement is very necessary. Bitter cold sneaks through even the thickest clothing and without warning, a snowstorm rises: unnaturally quickly, a wall of white howls directly in the refugee's path. Bizarrely, the way back is perfectly calm; it's obvious that this storm is no product of nature. Magda's challenge becomes clear: the only way to Nadril lies through this storm. Visibility within the storm is near zero, the whiteout hiding any landmarks from view and making navigation near impossible. The only guidance refugees have is a sporadic path of faint, greenish lights, easily lost in the raging storm. Refugees need all the survival skills they practiced on Thesa Station to survive, for getting lost alone is a death sentence. Luckily, those separated from the group can happen upon guiding lights Magda has planted throughout the tundra. These blue-white sparks cause frostbite if handled recklessly, but they also serve as directional anchors, turning into ghostly flames that lead lost souls back to the path to Nadril. The trek through the storm will be no mean feat and will last for the better part of three days. By the time the refugees reach Nadril's gate, most will find themselves exhausted and running on fumes. As the snowstorm dies away and a gap in the glittering forcefield around the city opens to usher the refugees inside, it's clear that Nadril is a different beast. A WARM(?) WELCOME     I. Despite the unforgiving journey, entering Nadril is painless. Once inside, characters will be greeted by their predecessors: the original refugees who made this advanced city. They'll immediately be offered medical attention, as well as warm cider and blankets. But it's obvious that the Nadril citizens prefer higher tech to fend off the weather: they also offer wristlets and ear cuffs that that double as mittens and earmuffs by creating warm bubbles of air. The earrings also feature a few quality of life programs, such as timed alarms and thought-to-speech messaging. However, both programs are in beta stages so it's not unusual for a stray thought to accidentally slip through or an alarm to accidentally ring at an inopportune time. II. Refugees are offered free lodging in a large, crystalline building crafted from ice. Despite the coarse building material, the ice is unmelting and surprisingly well-insulated, and the beds are as warm and cozy. The rooms are, however, small. The sleeping quarters house two people, and are some cross between an igloo and a capsule hotel. Though built for efficiency over comfort, all rooms are also outfitted with the latest Nadril AI, RoboAlfred, or Ralf for short. This helpful program is installed in practically all the furnishings: the closet tells guests to bundle up, the bathroom sink reminds them to brush their teeth, and the mirror offers helpful fashion tips. Ralf's personality matrix still needs polish, though: it may very well insult your clothes and passively-aggressively question your lifestyle choices for the entire stay. III. Though not as advanced as Thesa Station, the colony has technology far beyond the rest of the continent, such as rudimentary AIs and mechanical transportation. Nadril's skyline is a point of pride — refugees can take a (literal) lightrail that gives an aerial view of the colony, which is hewn almost entirely from ice and rock. Despite its tech, Nadril is much more sparsely populated than Olympia and Wyver, and its residents stay near a central hub: a Natha refugee drop ship, Central, which has crashed and long embedded itself into the earth. Central is similar to an older, smaller, grounded model of Thesa Station, in functional order with round-the-clock solar power. Within Central are lounges similar to ones on the Station, though many of the damaged areas have been converted. They include repair stations, different wings dedicated to science, botany, astrology, and mechanics, and a research and history facility, which has a smattering of technology from planets beyond El Nysa — including your own. The staff here don't mind if anything is sampled and studied, but objects cannot be taken from the labs. IV. On the outskirts of the central hub, many will find several curious looking bots with insect-like wings perched about high traffic walkways. Simply passing the bots will cause a dizzying flash before a series of photos print out. Upon closer inspection, people will find that these images reflect stills taken from their home worlds as they remember it. Unfortunately, these photos only last a couple of hours at best. At that time, they will revert back to regular pictures of the refugees. People will be encouraged to share these images of their worlds. The residents of Nadril comprehend the value of remembering one's origins, and will be pleased to see that people still hold memories of old homes close to them. RECREATION IN NADRIL     I. Small, mechanical creatures scampering through the city are a common sight. Ask anyone, and they’ll tell you that they come from a shop called Paws About Town. They’re very useful, as companions, gophers, and couriers (though the more mischievous will note that they’re just small enough to keep tabs on people without being noticed). Premade robotic pets are available on display inside the shop. They come in all shapes, but small sizes; one may be able to find robots that even look like miniature creatures from their homeworld. These are a part of a new, highly customizable line with programmable personalities. Customers have the chance to take pets for a one-day trial run. Those who don’t know how to program may want to enlist more knowledgeable aid, but the pets come with instructional pamphlets for basic personality traits such as obedience, helpfulness, playfulness, and bloodthirst. For returns, the switch to wipe the robot's personality to a blank slate is on the back of its neck, right between a switch to invert all traits, and a switch to have them learn by observing. Try not to press the wrong switch — you might wind up with a pet with a mind of its own! II. A. The Frosty Tap Cantina is a thriving hub of activity, but one of the major draws is the self-service bar: molecular mixology is wildly popular here. Playing with drink compositions can be a game in and of itself, and newcomers to the cantina will find that the bartender — a cheerful woman with lilac skin and three eyes — is always happy to give them a few tips on how to use the wide array of tools within reach of the barstools. All manner of drinks are possible — from glowing, layered cocktails, to clear drinks with colored, spherical bubbles and vividly-colored shots that give off their own smoke. There's a nightly contest in the cantina for the most creative drink created by a team — this may be as good a time as any to partner up with someone and see what can you come up with. Winner gets all their drinks for the night free! And, hey, even if you don't win, you get to drink whatever you make. The well-lubricated patrons of the bar are eager to challenge anyone nearby to a different sort of drinking game… Just how well can you hold your liquor? B. Holo-screens in the cantina are nearly always broadcasting some match or another of a game that looks very much like hockey, albeit played with sticks that light up and a puck that changes shape from time to time. Colonists here merely refer to the game as "the sport," and one of their favored pastimes is betting. However, they don't use currency — they wager dares. Nadril colonists are a tough, weathered lot, and they prefer to speak with actions over silver. Colonists will urge the refugees to take part as well. Common dares range from the ridiculous (lead a sing-a-long, attempt to make someone with a poker face smile) to the suggestive (kiss the person in the cantina you find most attractive, strip off a piece of clothing), to the outright reckless (venture out into the snow for a certain amount of time, and no one will judge if you find some company to keep warm). The colonists are unfazed by even the most insane or tawdry of dares — but you'll certainly be called a killjoy for refusing too often! Why not grab a friend and give it a whirl, or challenge a rival to a dare yourself? THE MISSION     I. On the outskirts of Nadril is the communications tower of the old refugees. This is where Magda resides, monitoring Nadril's technological protections, the extent of the Natha’s influence, and running his own personal projects for El Nysa’s technological advancement. It is isolated, filled with research labs and relics of the past refugees who have come to El Nysa — a living mausoleum of worlds swallowed up by the Storm whose peoples have refused to forget where they came from. Crew photos line the walls of the tower: pictures of alien families and friends, the refugees who came to Nadril before you. Each group of photos gradually becomes smaller in number, and the most recent of the pictures are from half a century ago. Magda's picture can be found among the first group of refugees, an unusually small cluster of photos dating back centuries in El Nysa's past. I have been on this planet for nearly two centuries. Life has come, evolved, and collided in an ever expanding culture. But Darma fears interference, and made this place a prison, with she our warden, stifling the growth of the creatures native to this world rather than encouraging them to flourish. She sent you here for answers in her stead because she knows I'll spurn her, and after seeing what that fool Raysc has wrought, I'll give you them — not for Darma's sake, but because I trust after all the Natha have done to you, you'll understand my decision. Mistakes were made, and I won't hide them. You've made it here so there's some mettle to you, and unlike the Orbiters, I'm not interested in hiding the secrets of the dangers we face. I gave Raysc what he needed to keep his actions hidden from Darma's eyes — what he needed to advance the primitive magics the Natha had doomed him to. It was old Natha tech, Darma's very own used against her. Hilarious, isn't it? Raysc learned of Nadril, and like you, braved the snow to find his way here. He proved his worth and his determination, and he spoke of a brighter future, El Nysa coming into its own, its people realizing their true potential, unhindered by the shackles that had been put upon them. I believed him. He had vision — or so I thought. In truth, he was a fool. A madman. He wasted the opportunity I gave him on his petty vengeance. But not everyone on this planet is such an idiot. Surely you lot aren't. The Natha are hiding things from us — about the Storm, about everything. And here in Nadril, we're going to find all those secrets. What's it going to be? Will you help us, or are you going to stay obedient dogs on Darma's leash? Magda isn't too talkative yet; after all, the new flock of refugees may just be here as eyes and ears for the Orbiters. But what he has said leaves you with plenty to talk about, and if you can earn his trust by helping out around Nadril, he doubtless has a great deal more to reveal. II. Central isn't the only Natha ship that made its way to El Nysa — another, crashed just outside Nadril's borders, is little more than a junk heap. It's here that you'll find the spare parts Darma asked you to retrieve for Thesa Station. What remains of the ship's hull serves as a windbreak, and snow has built up against it, turning the piles of old Natha tech inside into something of a snowy morass. Holes in the deck offer would-be scavengers passage to the ship's innards, barely illuminated with flickering lights — the tech is old, but hardy enough to withstand a crash landing, the severe weather, and the passage of centuries. Deep in the wreck are the remains of living quarters, research labs, VR arenas, mecha bays, cafeterias, and a host of other rooms, many of which may seem familiar from Thesa Station, albeit with a decidedly older feel to what remains of the smooth curves and sleek surfaces of the Natha architecture. Most of the ship's systems are damaged and the technology is nonfunctional, but that just means there's plenty of spare parts to be found. The wreck isn't in the best shape, its structural integrity damaged, and the drifting snow threatens to block off exit routes. Be careful while exploring and be sure to bring a partner. As it turns out, Darma isn't the only one interested in the wreck — Magda is also eager to get his hands on Natha technology. In his own way of taking some responsibility for Raysc, he's asking scavengers to bring him parts, muttering about seeing what he can do about Ysverai's curse. Bring him anything that looks useful, and he may have a chance to succeed, though whether he'll be more effective than the Natha Orbiters is up for debate... FINAL OOC NOTES     An AC-eligible thread with a new character as a participant for 2 NADRIL REP POINTS may be submitted from this log. SUBMIT THE THREAD HERE BY AUGUST 5TH, 11:59 PM EST. As always, feel free to create your own prompts and explore the Nadril location page! There are a variety of activities made available, including fishing and cave exploration! Please direct questions to the questions thread below! Thank you! QUICK NAV premise ● faq ● lore ● map ● npcs taken ● atp/emp ● application ● rep/acp calendar ● hiatus/drops ● modbox [ FULL NAVIGATION ] elnysa nysalogs nysaisles nysaooc elnyan

Comments

ii

[shikomizue]

[Takasugi is currently sprawled out on the bed, propped up lazily against the wall. Alone in his room, reaping the benefit of being a generally intolerable person, he's almost managing to relax.

Except for the AI telling him all of the complications that smoking can cause.

So far, he's tuned it out, but what he can't ignore is some sort of scraggly animal bounding straight through his room. There's no urgency to the way he sits up; taking up up the entire doorway between bathroom and bedroom, he's more intimidating than friendly or frazzled.]

Did it tell you to go shit outside?

[Vaguely, he recognizes this guy - from Mikazuki's farm? - but it doesn't bear mentioning. There were some pretty annoying people there... (@ Vane)]

[notwagging]

Do what where?

[ both ears twitch as he tilts his head. the fact he's barged into an occupied room isn't fazing him as Takasugi's question has him suddenly on edge. it's not a... friendly tone? but he's not getting stabbed for breaching privacy.

it's a win-win, or something like it. ]

No, it was complaining at me.

[ as he looks around, trying to get into Takasugi's bathroom to see if he'll get an unfair judgement. ]

Was it mean to you, too?

[shikomizue]

[Takasugi can only imagine the complaints the system could have about such a rugged guy. His hair is tangled, the scent he exudes isn't rank but it isn't pleasant, and he's breaking into someone's room.

The later would be Takasugi's personal gripe, the AI hasn't had the decency to mention anything like 'intruder alert'. It's still droning on about lung complications and high blood pressure.

Not that Takasugi hears it over the dull throb of his pulse in his ears.] If you don't like it, break it.

[A solution he's thought of several times, now more tempting than ever. He doesn't budge, still blocking his bathroom solely on principal.]

[notwagging]

[ hey, smelling like dog isn't an unpleasant thing! he also hasn't had the chance to jump into a bath (unwillingly) since being in the snow, so sorry-not-sorry about the eau de wet puppy that's going on right now. ]

But... you're in the way.

[ of which the AI takes a momentary break from Takasugi and snaps: "for everyone's sake, throw him in the tub!" and Keaton merely frowns, looks away then to the floor, then back up to Takasugi. ]

I can't break anything if you're in the way. Unless you want me to... move you.

[ or bite him! biting is an option. a long time ago, someone else was threatened to be bitten by a furry. ]

[shikomizue]

[Wet dog isn't the worst scent, but it's proximity has Takasugi's nostrils flaring - or maybe that's just a symptom of his building irritation. He's not about to follow some AI's directions, even if it would be for the best.]

You can break things in your room.

[Takasugi has no love for this AI, he wouldn't mind seeing the wolf go wild in his room, tearing out every speaker hidden behind the walls. But then he has to sleep in it, fizzling circuitry and collateral damage not something he's willing to suffer.

Yet.

"Two to a room. You both may share." The AI helpfully reminds, because it has a death wish. "Just make sure he bathes before you try sharing a bed, or you may get fleas."

Takasugi stares, like he's searching for the aforementioned pests on the dog hybrid's body.

And then moves aside. Kill it-

someone was threatened! with much cuter results]

[notwagging]

Fleas? [ he stares blankly into space, wondering if this is the time when Keaton is allowed to go destroy the bathroom and probably the room in general. his frown grows deeper, eyebrows furrowing as his tail goes completely limp and his ears pointed in the direction of the room he wasn't allowed to go in just yet.

once Takasugi's out of the way? he rushes in with a growl, fists clenched and in front of him. there's a moment of silence before...

...

no, it's just silence? maybe a little growling, some stomping around, but nothing explosive. nothing earth shattering (or glass shattering). it stays that way until he finally returns and immediately plops down on the bed. ]

I couldn't find anyone. I thought maybe one of these rooms would have that speaking person so I could... say hi.

[shikomizue]

[There's no need to watch the assault on his bathroom; Takasugi leans against the door frame, eye unfocused as he listens for the sound of industrial carnage. A growl brings the smile back to his face-

But nothing follows.

Except a disappointed looking dog, coming back with his tail between his legs.

He better not have fleas.]

It's not a person, it's a computer. [This... is futile, isn't it? He doesn't want to be caught in his own room explaining technology to a lost puppy.

Maybe he can just find some guy for this idiot to punch and call it a night.]

[notwagging]

Oh. Like the ones on the station.

[ because he didn't see any buttons to press or things to stare at! no neat screens to watch! but he is definitely still disappointed that he couldn't get anything to bleed here. it's all ice and not-fun. the worst. ]

Hey. You look familiar.

[ yes, he's certain he's seen Takasugi around before. he just can't remember where. so, using his other senses, he immediately gets close... just close enough to get a few investigative sniffs in. his tail whips itself into a frenzy as he cocks his head to one side, then the other. ]

Hm. Yeah. You smell familiar, too.

[ no fleas here! ]

[shikomizue]

[There's disappointment in the hybrid's eyes - Takasugi recognizes that much. He understands being irritated and wanting to hit something, but he'd just as soon take it out on the infrastructure. Rent metal a substitute for broken bones, paltry though it may be.

That this guy wanted to beat a man, or nothing, is pretty impressive.

But he'll save any praise for when his space isn't actively being invaded.

With more and more severity-

Takasugi leans forward, rather than away from the inspection, as if he's ready to nudge the creature away.] Yeah?

Like a farm? [Takasugi didn't do any real work on Mikazuki's farm, but he was there. Loitering on the porch, smoking, and watching everyone else toil under the sun. He'd probably caught a glimpse of a wolf boy, though from enough of a distance to assume the fur was simply an odd outfit choice.]

[notwagging]

You smell like... yeah, the farm. Mikazuki's farm.

[ and the thought of it now, where the dragon's influence probably hit it hard, makes him avert his gaze. just thinking about Mikazuki's hard work being destroyed by the weird undead monstrosity makes him want to tear up, hide somewhere with his tail curled in between his legs, and bury his face somewhere small so no one could see him pout.

instead? a frown. small and remorseful. ]

It's probably all messed up, isn't it? I rolled around all over the place, there was probably not a speck of dirt that I didn't know personally, and now it's...

[ sniffle. ]

[shikomizue]

[There on the hot day they'd all gathered to help make the farm into a home, and there on the dark day the sky had lost all glow, sun shrouded by the dragon's wings. Takasugi watches the joviality drain from the hybrid's face.

But he doesn't mirror the boy's frown.]

You'll have to focus more on working than rolling around, to clean it up.

[Almost remorseful, but-] I was there when the dragon raged in the sky.

There's debris, and upturned roots.

But the house still stands, and the crops are still growing. [He doesn't manage to sound comforting - more like he's somehow bragging? - but at least he's telling the truth.

That's pretty rare.]

[notwagging]

[ his pales at the mentioning of the dragon, but those cheeks regain color upon hearing about the state of the farm. despite the growing number of hours spent in the company of friends, he couldn't be there all the time. his bone cave did need some checking, after all. ]

... I guess I'll have to help with a lot of the cleanup.

[ the shapeshifted form of a wolfskin did come with a lot of non-combat benefits. ]

But that dragon...! Ugh, I hate it. I mean, just that dragon. I know other dragons but that one? I don't even think I could take any of its bones.

[shikomizue]

[Takasugi's content to have the wolfboy help with the recovery effort. Faintly, his smile softens, perhaps satisfied. Perhaps bored. He'd been cajoled, wordlessly, into helping Mikazuki plant some of his crops when he'd come to the farm's inaugural gathering.

He doesn't intend on lifting a finger so easily again.

Especially if there's a willing, overeager dog to do the heavy lifting in his stead.] Do you make a habit of taking dragon bones? [A small chuckle, because that's quite the hobby.

A notably valuable one.]

[notwagging]

Dragon bones? [ he snorts, scuffing the ground with the tip of his boot. ] I would, but every time I tried to take one from Wyver, I'd get scolded by someone. [ and he doesn't bother hiding that frown. ] They looked so neat! And big!

[ there are stars in his eyes, imagining how wonderful it would've been to decorate his home with the bones of every sacred and precious dragon that the land had to offer. ]

But that last one? You know, the really angry one? I didn't even try. Way too dangerous.

[ just thinking about it made his tail quiver. ]

[shikomizue]

[Rather than worry about getting scolded, this guy should worry about getting caught. Though, he hasn't given the most subtle of impressions - too eager, too earnest, too brash.

It's not a bad impression.

Takasugi chuckles, shaking his head.] I have a few pieces you could have.

If you can afford it. [Cree pays well, and Takasugi's not one for charity.]

Otherwise, who knows. Maybe you'll unearth some digging around at Mikazuki's farm. [Bad!! Influence!!]

[notwagging]

No way, you do? [ but then he blinks and tilts his head, ears twitching in confusion. ] Afford it? With what? Oh, do you want to trade bones, I've got some but it's all in Wyver.

[ then again, Keaton also has a bunch of silver laying around, but that's actual money. who cares about that?! bones are way more fun. or buckets of blood. ]

... I don't think he'd be happy if I just tore up his farm. He really likes it, and I really like him.

[shikomizue]

[Trading bones doesn't sound entirely like a raw deal - though Takasugi would be more interested if the marrow offered was fresh, procured on a whim. He wonders how the skittish pup would feel about a deal like that.

It would be more fun.]

Hah. That's true. [Takasugi waves his hand, dismissive of his own idea. It was hardly serious.

To say he's glad Mikazuki has a friend like this would be too generous, but he acknowledges their friendship without hesitation.]

I'll send you to fetch some bones for me sometime.

So long as you don't mind if they're still attached to someone.

[notwagging]

You mean like... attached to someone like I'd be attached to it, or do you mean...

[ despite having many bleps, this one seems to be the most menacing one he could conjure in a moment's notice. not that he practices them in a mirror, but the intent is certainly there for interpretation. ]

... attached to someone.

[ actually there are probably a few TOO many ways to take 'fetching bones'. ]

As long as I can keep one or two, sure.

[shikomizue]

[There isn't much else Keaton's scrunched face can remind Takasugi of but a dog that's just smelled something worse than its own shit. Not quite endearing, but an expression that's odd enough to soften Takasugi's smile.

But just a little.

Despite his protest, the boy agrees to Takasugi's proposition without much resistance.

He'll remember that. Both to take him up on the offer, and how easy it is to convince this guy of 'a good idea'.] You can keep most of it - I'll just take a token.

[The rest of the logistics can come later.] Do you have a room of your own, or are you staying here? [Takasugi had been uninterested in company, but...

he wouldn't hate having a pet for the night.]

[notwagging]

[ he snorts! if anything, it sounds like Keaton's getting the better end of the deal, but he's also quite aware (almost too aware) of the implications of randomly killing a person for their body parts. it'd be like if someone were to poach his fur. but still, if it makes Takasugi smile a little more? it helps. a real people pleaser/sucker. ]

Nah, I've been roaming around. Why? Sure I won't bother you or anything? Maybe the owner of that annoying voice will come by and I can give them a piece of my mind.

[ or a few broken bones, or the fabled 'blood removed from the body' trick. ]

[shikomizue]

[That's disgustingly cute. Keaton save yourself while you can, Takasugi isn't worth the effort----

He's, at least, not typically quite so random about who gets to keep their bones and who doesn't. Not to say he's entirely discerning either, twenty and two hundred aren't too different, in the context of war. Why should they be when it comes to civilians?

Takasugi isn't sure at all that Keaton won't bother him; he's hardly one to share his space well. But suffering the creatures eccentricities seems worth it, for the chance to someday see his fangs bared in earnest.

Against something other than a robo-butler.] Heh, maybe. Don't hold back.

Do you sleep on the foot of the bed? [Coy, but if the answer is yes Takasugi won't fight it.]

[notwagging]

I don't hold anything back. I'm always going forward.

[ like, smashing things with big paws and claws or bulldozing with heavy legs and a frame similar to a happy wrecking ball--- if one could be happy, of course. he's not fat, he's fluffy, and there's literally nothing physical that can stop him once he goes.

emotionally, though? maybe. ]

Beds have feet?

[ staring blankly at Takasugi, he adds to his response with the smallest cock of his head. ]

I guess I could, but they'd have to be pretty big.

[ also could he take one with him, this is the real q. ]

[shikomizue]

[Whether or not Takasugi believes Keaton's bold assertion, he'll hold him to it. Remind him of those words, when something emotional crops up, like say... morals?

Though those take some sort of intelligence, and Takasugi's beginning to wonder.

He levies the hybrid with a long stare. A drawn out blink.]

Show me how you want to sleep.

[Takasugi slides from the bed to his feet. The size of it leaves much to be desired for two people, but he's slept in far worse conditions than nestled up to a (flea ridden?) dog.]

[notwagging]

[ how he wants to sleep? that's kind of an odd question, and he mulls the answer over as he moves over to one side of the bed. he leaves no trail as he does so, and there's been no itches needing scratching the entire time he's been here.

no fleas! ]

Like... this?

[ facing the inside, Keaton's head sinks halfway into the big soft pillow underneath it, but his smile should be as obvious. if not, his tail is pulverizing the edge of the mattress. ]

But normally I just go wherever. I can sleep on the floor, under the covers, inside the bed, around the bed...

his tail..cute...

[shikomizue]

[No fleas.

Not such a severe threat to bring relief, but there's some satisfaction in knowing the annoying voice was wrong.

Saying he'll die of smoking related causes. Like hell - he'll be dead long before any of that can catch up to him. Edge

The dog doesn't take up the entirety of the bed, but with the way he's laying, they'd be nestled quite close. Considering the vague chill of the room, sleeping with an extra layer of fur wouldn't be uncomfortable...

Takasugi will save the offer to sleep on the floor for another time.] Like that is fine.

[His appraisal passed, he sets his pipe on the bedside table before climbing back in, though facing away from the hybrid. Little spoon? His back arched, he presses into the warmth behind him - a bit too solid of a nudge to be anything intimate.]