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Post by Brian, Todd on Jul 26, 2012 12:22:05 GMT -8
"Shut up," A pillow smacked Todd which made him jump. He turned around and began barking.
"Well maybe if you didn't have to point out every time you saw a god damn fish or THINK you saw one then maybe I wouldn't have done that," Brian threw his hands up in the air showing his disgust. Of course to him, Todd's barking sounded like someone arguing, and in this case, he was annoyed by "LOOK BRIAN! A FISH! A FISH! I THINK THAT MIGHT BE A FISH!" Such was the entire boat ride. Just like any car trip with other cars or plane flight with clouds.
Todd jumped onto the bed and bit Brian's neck, trying to gain dominance. Brian reacted by grabbing Todd's bottom jaw and forcing him onto his back. They looked each other in the eye and then Brian let go. Todd backed off and shook his body. "Now look buddy, this isn't going to be like home. We are nothing special to these people, because the things I do are just like them. Remember the guy in India who could breathe fire?" He made air quotes when saying "breathe fire."
Todd seemed to ponder and scratch his ear with his foot. He responded with a short yelp.
"Well these guys may actually breathe fire. For real. Or turn invisible. Or make things blow up. We are just a guy who can make himself a monster and his dog. But when they know you and me talk you will be known as Todd, not just 'Here boy! Such a good boy.'"
Todd whined and put his head down, a few barks in response.
Brian laughed, "Ya, you might not be as much as a babe magnet to these guys."
A loud horn, and the boat seemed to be rocking less as it slowed. "Oh thank god, I was starting to feel sea sick." Brian stood up and Todd jumped off the bed staying right at his side.
The two continued off the boat. Brian talked about how one cellular phone company was better than the other while Todd make small yelping and barking noises back. It didn't for a second seem to be a one-sided conversation. The god onto the pier and began walking inland. "Sure is nice. I love island weather!" He stretched trying to recover from the long boat ride in a cramped room with one window. Todd made a small growl in disagreement. His fur didn't do well with humidity.
"Hey, you could have been a parrot, but I figured a dog would be cooler. And not as fragile. Also sacrificing squawks for barks was a good trade, trust me."
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Post by Ms. Juliette on Jul 27, 2012 2:11:00 GMT -8
Mao the cat sat on the pier. He was aware that Marina could take care of herself well enough, and was just looking to maybe have a bit of a snooze somewhere on the island away from it all. He walked to the edge of the pier and sat again, then lowered his front paws in order to look down closer at the water. He could have sworn he saw a fish in there...
The cat licked his lips. He liked fish. They were salty and meaty, and it was really nice with how cooked properly the meat would fall off the bone. Delicious fish...He was about to swat at the water when his large pointed ears twitched, hearing the sound of a boat approaching the dock. He stared at it with golden eyes for a moment, unsure whether to simply ignore the approaching vehicle or to run for cover. For one, he wasn't sure how many feet would be trampling the area, or how much jeopardy his tail would be in.
He looked back down. The fish that he had seen had disappeared. Pity that. The cat sighed and pulled himself to a sitting position with better posture, curling his tail around to his paws. He yawned sleepily and squinted as he watched the boat, awaiting the people to leave it.
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Post by Brian, Todd on Jul 27, 2012 13:36:50 GMT -8
"It was just a matter of taste though. I don't really think that huskies make great companions, better racers though." Brian said to Todd. Todd shook his head in disappointment and then stood at attention. He began sniffing the air and growling.
Brian looked down at him. "Seriously? So what? Its a cat. You seriously can't get over a cat still?" He brought the palm of his hand to his face. He then brought it up over his eyes to shield them as he looked around for the cat. "Just make sure you don't kill it. Who knows if it belongs to a student or IS a student."
Todd smelled for a few more seconds and then caught sight of the cat. He barked once. Signaling to Brian that he found it. Without wasting any time he charged at it. He barked relentlessly and loudly as he made the full sprint toward Mao.
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Post by Ms. Juliette on Jul 28, 2012 4:17:15 GMT -8
Slowly and Calmly the boat docked. The crew went out and tied the boat to the dock as part of their routine. Bounding out between the people doing their duties came a large looming and formidable creature, smelling like... Mao's hair rose on his back and he drew himself to a stand.
"I'M WARNING YOU, DOG!!" He said aloud forcibly, hissing with his words, "Don't... come any closer..." The cat was prepared to pull out his claws if need be. Parts of his body were becoming transparent and semi-intangible as he felt the dog approaching. He took a couple of steps back on his paws, staring the dog down nervously, black hair bristling.
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Post by Brian, Todd on Jul 29, 2012 18:49:37 GMT -8
There it was a cat, and it wasn't moving. It was easy prey. It was frightened prey. It was Todd's prey. The barking ceased as he was even closer to Mao. He put more energy into his sprint. Then there were words.
Brian heard them. Normally cats would run from Todd. They never stood their ground or threatened. Even more odd, they were never see through. It was seeming just as Brian feared. "Todd don't!" He yelled, but Todd in hunt mode would not pay attention. "Damn it."
Brian opened the palm of his hand and an egg was suddenly in it. He threw the egg in Todd's direction. It cracked open and burst in mid-air. Out popped boa constrictor with condor wings. The winged snake flew toward Todd and curled around him. It restrained him without the big squeeze. He fell just before Mao.In fear for his life and losing his prey Todd struggled against the snake, but he could not escape the serpent's grip.
Brian sighed in relief and walked over to Todd. "You were going to kill it! I told you it could be a student or something!" Once he arrived by Todd's side he touched his chimera. The snake let go of Todd and flew off. Brian took over the chimera's job by grabbing Todd by the scruff of his neck. He looked toward the cat. It even seemed less so like one from up-close, "I'm sorry about that, maybe its about time to keep him on a leash." Todd growled at Brian in disagreement.
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Post by Ms. Juliette on Jul 31, 2012 6:58:16 GMT -8
Mao watched as the egg was formed in the boys hand and it was thrown at the dog. His hair remained on end for a moment or two until the dog had been controlled. He took a step back once more.
"Control your pet better next time." He said, indignant. "He could have tried to bite me!" The cat said, still slightly huffed. He sat down once again. "I assume that you are a new student, so Welcome to Solstice Academy..." He began, an elongated sigh following his words.
"Don't worry though. He wouldn't have killed me, I'm already dead. I'm a spirit, my name is Mao. However do you do." He said, twitching his whiskers. His name came out as a cat's meow, low in pitch and somewhat longer sounding than any of his other words.
He stood up, still wary of the dog. "Come on then, I suppose I'm not getting a nap for another while... I guess I'll lead you two around or something. I am a guide after all."
The spirit turned into a human male with scruffy dark-brown hair and black neko-ears, and scratched the back of his head with his claw-like fingernails. He wore a strangely designed suit with a bit of dirt around the hem of his trousers, and riding boots. A tail stuck out the back of his pants where there was a little hole for it.
"Come on then." He said, gesturing with his head for him to be followed.
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Post by Brian, Todd on Jul 31, 2012 7:11:38 GMT -8
Brian shared a similar expression to Todd when they listened to Mao talk in such a tongue. Both of their jaws dropped open when he transformed. Todd made whining sounds under his breath to Brian. "I know," Brian whispered as he knelt down, "I never thought we would run into people like this. This is kinda cool. But remember they don't know what we are capable of buddy." He gave Todd a reassuring smile and a thumbs up.
Brian stood up. "Sure thing. This is Todd and my name is Brian. Give me one sec to go grab my things." Brian walked back to retrieve the luggage he left behind to chase Todd. All that time Todd never took his eyes off Mao. He was always a kind dog, but he was always sure to watch new people closely and now was a "people" to him.
"Okay, I'm ready whenever you are...Mao," Brian tried to pronounce the name as closely as he could to how he heard it.
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Post by Ms. Juliette on Jul 31, 2012 7:36:46 GMT -8
Mao nodded, "Not a problem." He said easily, giving a small yawn which momentarily exposed his fang-like teeth. The neko ears of the cat twitched slightly as he overheard the whispered comments to his dog. He then noticed the boy's carefulness in pronouncing his name. He seemed to have a good 'cat accent'. Mao approved of this.
A smug sort of smile played across his face. "So, you can create eggs with animals inside them... " He said conversationally. Curiosity was a fate that he wasn't ever good at avoiding. He seemed to flash translucent for a moment as though involuntarily, like a twitch.
"It's nice to meet you Brian... and Todd too I suppose... I'm sorry, just..." He glanced back and gave the dog a look before directing the rest to Brian, "I'm not a big fan of canines." He said, narrowing his eyes the same way he would in cat form.
He began leading the way to the campus with an easy stroll, looking around with a sharp gaze. "I am a teacher's assistant, working with Ms. Juliette who teaches Languages. There are many subjects at Solstice Academy which I am sure you'll find beneficial to your future as a superhuman, such as power control and arcane histories." He rambled off in a sort of monotone, like an old lecturer. He sighed, as though tired of giving the same speech to every new student.
"Up there," He said, gesturing towards the distant campus with his tail moving slightly around him, "Is Solstice itself. I will bring you to the office where you will be given your schedule and dorm room key, as well as a basic map of the campus to assist you in getting around."
He looked Brian dead in the eyes, with a look that seemed to go straight through him in a very feline way. "I'm leading you as far as that office, and then, I really hope you don't mind if I just go to sleep somewhere." Another yawn followed this, and Mao then rubbed at his cheek with the side of his hand and turned back around, "Any questions?"
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Post by Brian, Todd on Jul 31, 2012 7:50:15 GMT -8
Brian was still very impressed with the feline that capable of conversation. He hadn't met an animal with that type of social skills since Todd. "Well I can create chimeras of sorts. Things that probably weren't meant to exist. Like snake-birds, or mole-grasshoppers. And then I can modify animals and myself. He put down his luggage and pulled out a set of shorts and a shirt, Todd let him put them on. Brian put his hand on Todd's head and he began to change. He became as human looking as Mao had become, except he looked exactly like Brian, yet kept his tail and ears. Brian began to change as well, he grew ears and a tail that looked just like Todd's. They could be unrecognizable except that they were wearing different clothes. They both stood up, looking like twin brothers.
"And I can talk to you, no matter what language you speak." Brian said. He put his arm over Todd's shoulders who picked up a bag of luggage to help Brian out.
Todd enjoyed being a human sometimes, to stand upright once in a while, and since the human genes Brian used was his own, he could talk to anyone as well, "So now we stand on equal ground. But I do have one question. What was that about hating dogs?" He wore a cocky smile, he maintained his canine teeth.
Brian punched Todd in the ribs. "Knock it off. You were the one who charged him remember?" Brian sighed, "Sometimes giving him the ability to talk isn't the best thing, but it helps me not look insane in groups of people."
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Post by Ms. Juliette on Jul 31, 2012 8:04:23 GMT -8
Mao watched the transformation with wide eyes, but didn't raise an eyebrow. "That's quite impressive... Altering animals..." The thought didn't worry Mao too much, although there was a possibility that he could be altered in ways he wouldn't like, he didn't think the possibility was too high. Especially if he has to touch the creature, Mao could be untouchable- or if the genes had to be living. Mao wasn't. "Truly a fascinating power..." He said.
He observed the human dog with a small grin. "Funny looking creature, if I ever saw one." He said with an undertone that wasn't quite placeable. He wasn't the biggest fan of his cocky smile. His tail twitched with mild annoyance. He pulled himself together and gave a sigh.
"Anyway, Tongues is an interesting power, isn't it. I'm sure you'll get along swimmingly with Ms. Juliette, who shares your power." He nodded.
"I can understand that position easily enough. You wouldn't think it, but I had to pretend to be an ordinary house cat for years in Marina's youth. Infuriating, to be doted on and stroked, the food was dry and mank, people always speak to you with baby voices, it's ridiculous." He shook his head, "But if I had acted any other way, then Marina's parents would have known that I wasn't normal. This realm is a silly place."
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Post by Brian, Todd on Jul 31, 2012 8:17:16 GMT -8
"Realms, pfft," Todd scoffed. He crossed his arms and rolled his eyes, "You say it like this place isn't linked to the other ones."
Brian shot a look at Todd, "Really? You're bringing that up?" Brian shivered at the thought. "He is still bitter over what happened to us on a trip to Australia. A man, an average man, opened a rift to what I can only imagine was something like Hell. Evil stuff started popping out of it, and with our tour guides help, we closed it. Todd got sucked into it for a second, but our guide was a telekinetic and pulled him right back."
"The things there, they are like here but different. Much scarier than you." Todd said to Mao.
This was a tangent Brian and Todd got on whenever someone mentioned other worlds. It was a bit of a post-trauma recollections for them. Brian caught them rambling on and tried to change the subject.
"So this Ms. Juliette. She is like me, can talk to and understand everyone and everything?"
Todd's face showed he was not pleased that Brian changed the subject so suddenly, as if he were ignoring a possible malignant tumor.
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Post by Ms. Juliette on Jul 31, 2012 8:26:24 GMT -8
Mao was surprised whenever the boy and his dog started talking about the other realms. "Oh, another traveler! Fantastic to see more who are aware." He said, a grin growing on his face, eyes lighting up. "I am more aware of the connection between the worlds than you think young man." He said with a small laugh.
"Indeed, she can. Although only things that are sentient..." He added, glancing at the dog-boy. He narrowed his eyes at the comment on his scary-factor, "I'm sorry, I hadn't any idea that I was meant to be posing some sort of threat towards you in the first place. However, if you'd like..." He turned his head to the side to glare at the dog for a moment.
Then he looked away, remembering rules about the students. "... Marina is also able to travel between the realms. She's quite well known between worlds for her deeds. Some might call her a hero." He said proudly, as though honored to have been her spirit guide through the journey.
He knew inwardly however that she would only come across as a ditz and an airhead whenever they finally met the woman... But she had a good heart, and a sharp mind when she wanted to. At least, that's what Mao continuously told himself.
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Post by Brian, Todd on Jul 31, 2012 8:45:55 GMT -8
"And that is like what we do I guess, except since everyone understands me as if we grew up together I am a peace negotiator. I was hired by the United Nations to be a translator and mediator. Break the ice by being the translator for them and their pets. And then we get down to ending wars and conflicts. Nothing I hate more than wars." Brian explained.
Todd nodded. "We used to have three different country leaders trying to get us to a meeting table every week."
"But, this Mrs. Juliette, she travels to different dimensions to solve problems. That's big. Bigger than us I'd say," Brian said to Todd.
Todd shrugged, "Not bad for a cat lover."
"Hey besides a parrot, I considered making you a ginger cat," Brian smirked.
"Bet you are glad you changed your mind on that one." Todd retorted as if it were more directed at Mao than Brian.
Brian rolled his eyes, "So do we get to meet this Mrs. Juliette? I almost wonder what would happen if our language powers combined."
"Explosions, death, and the end of the world as we know it," Todd muttered under his breath, "Or maybe you'll just understand each other."
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Post by Ms. Juliette on Jul 31, 2012 15:23:48 GMT -8
Mao gave a small smile, "That's good news," He said honestly. "It's good to hear about students who work in the field so young. It's refreshing to say the very least." He said. He didn't feel the need to expose the fact that Marina and himself were on an inter-planar council as representatives of the material plane. Well, Marina more than himself, he just attended the meetings as a body guard of sorts.
Mao laughed at the idea of the dog actually having possibly been born a cat. "To be honest though, You're right. A dog suits you... Bold, courageous, dim.." He shrugged.
Mao looked over to the two of them, "If you'd like, I can take you to meet Ms. Juliette in her office after you sign up to classes if you want- Or perhaps even she could help you sign up. I'm sure you'd be taking a few languages for easy passes, I'd be surprised if you didn't."
He laughed at the last comment, a sharp sound which pierced the air. "I don't think there will be many deaths involved." He said shaking his head. "Which direction, towards the offices or Ms. Juliette's?"
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