kaisou | July Event Log

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July Event Log

July Event
Dominant Element: Water
Waning Element: Fire

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Summertime in the city continues! Throughout the month, the daytime hours will be scorching hot. Not only that, but due to the water element being in effect- everything will be miserably humid, making everything feel much worse. Make sure to dress for hot weather, or hide yourself away in an air conditioned building. The nights will be cooler and give some reprieve, but even then the humidity will be sticking around. About once a week, the city will experience a heavy thunderstorm. More on those in a bit!

Freedom & Fireworks

As June ends and July begins, the Pride flags are put away for an absurd amount of red, white and blue ones. Like any American city this time of year, Kaisou has plenty to do for the national holiday. All over the city you will see the classic red, white and blue. Blue Fish Lake Park is having a summer block party to celebrate the holiday. You can go there to hear some live music or play some games like cornhole (where you stand at a distance and try to throw beanbags into the hole), three-legged races, or tug-of-war. There's also plenty of delicious grilled and barbequed food to be had, such as hamburgers, ribs, shish kabobs, potato salad, shaved ice, and of course the coveted mac and cheese.

If you're truly brave enough, there's a chili cooking competition you can enter. Just about every other entry comes from an ancient secret family recipe and they are insistent it is the best. At some point, the competition will get so heated a large fist fight will break out over whether beans should be in chili. The goose will attempt to knock over your pot of chili before it can be judged. There are tears shed. You suspect the grand prize winner bribed the judges. Regardless of your behavior, you manage to make several enemies.

Of course, no Fourth of July is complete without fireworks. And boy, are there fireworks. So. Many. Fireworks. The city will have its grand firework show over Blue Fish Lake, which is an impressive and professional display of pyrotechnics. But the fireworks don't end with just the professional show, as there's plenty of private residents playing with their own sets of explosives. While Kaisou has some laws on the books about many types of fireworks being banned, it's obvious that a lot of people completely ignore that law. Smaller fireworks and sparklers can be purchased in normal stores, while the bigger grade stuff can be found in more shady shops. Some vendors in Undertown will even sell enchanted fireworks that'll do more specialized imagery and movements than normal fireworks. Grab some fireworks to blow stuff up for freedom yourself, or find some earplugs - it's gonna be a loud weekend.

Stardew Valley and the Kanto regions can still be visited throughout the month, though there isn't anything new going on with them. Still, sometimes it's nice to retread some familiar ground.

Storm Season

With the spirit vein's summertime shift to the water element comes Kaisou's infamous storm season. About once a week, Kaisou will be hit by a heavy thunderstorm. Shortly before a storm arrives, storm sirens (warning: loud alarm sound) will sound off to warn citizens of potential danger. From there, characters will have a few precious minutes to seek shelter if they decide to do so.

True to their name, these storms will feature constant heavy lightning that can strike you if you aren't careful. Sudden heavy downpours will immediately soak anyone still outside and cause flooding in some areas and basements. Be careful not to drive into any standing water on the roads, as some flooding spots can get deep enough to submerge a car. While there's thankfully no tornadoes this year, there are strong straight line winds that can get up to 100mph, meaning they're strong enough to knock over trees, throw around lawn furniture, and damage the sides of buildings. And if all that wasn't enough, there's baseball-sized hail that'll easily take out a car window or cause some serious damage if it hits you.

These storms will only last a few hours, but they can cause plenty of damage. Power outages caused by down powerlines are common, causing blackouts in numerous neighborhoods from several hours to a full day before the lights come back on. The Zodiac building where otherworlders stay will also be susceptible to these blackouts, and anyone who decided to take the elevator during a storm will find themselves stuck in there for a half-day. Beyond that, there's plenty of volunteer and odd job opportunities focused around cleaning up fallen branches and other debris.

Commence the Beach Episode

On the morning of July 8th, Zodiac will send out an alert:

ALERT: SHIFTING GATE LOCATED ON KAISOU BEACH.
Element Classification: Water
Danger Level: Low on the mainland, high on the sea
Designation: El Nido
A new gate has been detected off Kaisou Beach. Initial scouting reports that the mainland is a peaceful beach resort, with plenty of amenities and less humidity. There are rumors of more dangerous elements should you take a boat and sail away from the mainland. Zodiac is unable to confirm what those dangers may be, so take precautions should you decide to do so. Zodiac is not liable for any injuries or deaths that may occur if you leave the mainland.
That said, Zodiac will provide compensation for any investigation reports or valuable items obtained in the realm.

If you swing by the Zodiac Headquarters, the mood of the office is rather relaxed. Some of the staff are talking amongst themselves visiting the realm to get a free vacation - it's not often you get a realm with few things trying to eat your face! If you ask about what happens if you leave the mainland of this realm, they will say that reports are full of untold dangers and bad luck. But what else can you expect from a high sea adventure? Professor Willow doesn't have much to offer, other than speculating if there's sea monsters in the water. Mostly he's occupied with data he's been gathering from the Kanto Realm. Seems pokemon are his first and always love. But as usual, you'll be able to rent out weapons and equipment from Zodiac.

The gate is a hard one to miss. While Kaisou Beach is packed this time of year with regular folks that are trying to cool off in the summer heat, off to the side there is a very noticeable rock formation that wasn't there before. The passage underneath the arch glows a tropical blue color and seems very inviting. Sure enough, that must be the gate. The normal people on the beach don't seem to notice its presence in the slightest, and it should be easy enough to slip past them to head into the realm.

El Nido: A Tropical Paradise

Upon entering the gate, you'll find yourself on a white sandy beach. While it's still warm, it's not the stifling humid heat that blankets the city. Instead, it's an ideal summer temperature, perfect beach weather. The skies and oceans are both an intense blue, the kinds of shades you see on postcards, with white fluffy clouds on the distance horizon of the ocean. Something about the entire scene already feels like a wondrous reprieve compared to previous realms.

As you walk along the beach, you'll come across a village resort. Rather than humans, the village is populated primarily by anthropomorphic birds of various types that are no bigger than waist size compared to a full grown adult. They welcome the visitors warmly, with happy chirps amid their words. They're used to humans visiting their place, so they have set up human sized lodging for people separate from their village to stay if they like. Payment wise they don't ask for much, mostly just things like birdseed, fruit, small rodents, interesting sticks, and other things birds enjoy. Overall they're a friendly and kind flock of birds, mostly interested in making sure your stay is a great one. However, if you do anything to mistreat the birds- you will quickly find yourself being swooped at and attacked by multiple birds.

The lodging is what you'd expect from an idyllic beach vacation. Despite this place being run by a bunch of small bird people, the human rooms are surprisingly modern, with proper indoor plumbing and electricity. There's a restaurant with all sorts of delicious tropical dishes and drinks (no bird meat though) and you can get room service for some extra birdseed. It's an extremely comfortable stay with varying room sizes, though due to the number of people visiting, some of you may end up getting roomed with another person. Or two.

As for activities, there's plenty you can do. You can go swimming in the ocean, even borrowing scuba gear so you can do some scuba diving and check out the gorgeous coral reefs around the island. You can go hiking and survey the breathtaking flora and fauna the land has to offer. You can stay close to the resort and treat yourself to a spa day by getting a relaxing bird-given massage or sitting in a hot tub. And don't forget fun beach games, like playing volleyball or making sandcastles. Or if you venture a little farther, you will find an amusement park situated on a pier over the ocean. You can ride the Ferris Wheel or the small roller coaster, eat carnival food (again, no bird meat), or play carnival games for fun prizes such as stuffed animals or t-shirts.

This is truly an idyllic, wondrous vacation. For once, you guys are getting nice things!

Yay a Pirate Adventure!

Too bad some of you refuse to just have nice things huh.

While you're staying in the resort, you may hear rumors floating among some of the birds, especially if you ask what lies beyond their island. They will say there's rumors that there's amazing treasure out there, if anyone is brave and strong enough to seek it out. However, if you press more about it, you'll find out that no one's actually ever returned from sailing out into the sea, so it's impossible to know if the rumors are true or not. They do try to caution you that it is very dangerous to go out there. Also, to try to avoid the pirate ship that sits on their shore, because obviously a pirate ship must have dangerous pirates aboard.

There's only one way to find out, right? As luck will have it, if you wander past the amusement park, you'll find a seafaring vessel next to a dock. It's a large pirate ship, one that is surely large enough to sail out on the ocean. It's the ship that the locals told you to stay away from, but surely it wouldn't hurt to have a look right? Characters who are 15 years or younger will find themselves unable to board unless they're accompanied by another older character - which also might be a telling sign. If you go on the pirate ship, the ship is somehow fully stocked and ready to go on an adventure, despite no clear sign of any crew. In the captain's quarters, there's a treasure map with a route that'll take them to some marked treasure as well as a small chest full of golden coins and gems. Below deck, they will find that there is plenty of food and drink to be had, as well as an entire wardrobe full of classic pirate clothes.

But be warned, trying to take anything from the ship will seal their fate. As they do so, they'll feel a burning sensation somewhere on their body as a skull-and-crossbones tattoo appears. They will also now be magically unable to leave the ship. After about 12 hours from the first person to try to take something, the ship will begin to set sail out into the ocean that so many people tried to warn you about. Looks like you signed up for a pirate adventure, whether you wanted to or not.

Oh No a Pirate Adventure

The pirate ship voyage will last about a week. Characters with the pirate mark will be forced to see it through to the end, even if they attempt to teleport out of there. The ship is enchanted to run itself, but there's books and guides in the Captain's quarters to teach how to run a ship in case you don't trust the ships autopilot. It might be wise to read up on that. Characters can still connect to the Libra network, but any other internet access will be cut off. Also you should take care not to waste your battery - as there's no electricity on the boat.

The trip will play out as followed:

Day 1: Smooth sailing! Characters will have time to adjust to their new sea life.

Day 2: The characters will make landfall on their first island. It's a barren dessert island, full of caves and quicksand. Near the shore, they will hear the call of sirens (img cw: nipples). These siren songs will be alluring to anyone who are attracted to women, making them fall into a trance. If you get too close to the sirens, they will attempt to drown and eat them.

Day 3: More sailing! The sailing is going through some choppy waters, with fog causing the visibility to get worse and worse. Halfway through the day a ghost ship tries to attack yours with cannon balls. Work together and fight them off before they sink you to the bottom of the ocean.

Day 4: You arrive at an island covered in bones. As in there are bones everywhere. Of course, there are many living skeletons here who will come out of the bone piles and try to murder you.

Day 5: It's smooth sailing until late into the day, when a kraken appears and tries to take down the ship. You can try to fight it off to buy time for other crew to make it to the lifeboats, but the sheer size and strength of the beast will eventually prevail- snapping the ship in half and dragging it down into the ocean. Try your best to survive by grabbing a lifeboat or using some ship debris to float.

Day 6: By morning, the now-shipless crew will wash up onto the shores of a new island. Unlike the last two islands, this is a tropical island that's full of life. It's the island that the treasure marked to have the treasure. Spend your day trying to gather what you lost and recovering. Traveling around the island is impossible to do all in one day. They will get halfway around before they need to camp for the night. You'll also have to be mindful of food and water, as all of that was lost with the ship.

Day 7: On the final day, they will finally make it to the other side of island and the spot of the treasure. Luckily there's some shovels nearby. Do some digging and they will unearth a treasure chest. Inside, there's various types of fine jewelry that is enchanted to give the wearer underwater breathing, and plenty of gold that when split among the crew - will give them each about $500 worth. There is also another ship on the shore here, one that looks just like the one you lost. This ship will sail once everyone is aboard, and take them back to the mainland by morning.

Aftermath

Those who were on the pirate adventure will find themselves returning safely to the resort. The bird people will be thrilled of their return and excited to hear of their stories. The tattoos appeared may begin to fade once the adventure is over, freeing them from the curse. Or if you rather, they can keep the tattoo on them for the memory.

The resort itself will be open for any and all visitors until the end of the month. Zodiac as well will be happy to pay you in compensation for any items you bring them. All ends that ends well, it seems.

OOC Notes

The dominant element this month is Water! Anyone with an affinity to the water element will find themselves boosted throughout the month. This could mean a boost to their power, having more energy, feeling more inspired with creativity, having better luck on different attempts -- the boost can manifest in all sorts of different ways. By contrast, anyone with an affinity for Fire will be experiencing the opposite. Perhaps their powers will be weaker, they have less energy, they're having a creative block or general worse luck - again it can manifest in all sorts of way and players are free to play with this mechanic as they'd like.

This event is meant to be a low-key fun event! Have your character go on a very dangerous pirate adventure, or just relax in the resort! Anyone who goes on the pirate adventure will get a piece of jewelry that lets them breath underwater, and $500. Totally worth that level of danger right? Totally....

The original OOC plotting post for this event can be found here.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Alberto gives Pepa a most incredulous look, taken aback by how affectionate she is toward this terrifying toy. Alberto's never owned many toys that are meant to be toys, and while he formed bonds in playtime as a young child with imaginary friends and neighboring animals and such, he never had any dolls or toys that were easy to personify. That said, this long Furby is his first stuffed animal ever, at the ripe old age of fourteen. He got it mostly because he found it hilarious how disturbing it looks... and hadn't even considered naming it yet. So Pepa's reaction as if this is totally normal and not unsettling strikes him as abnormal and unsettling.

He shifts his confused and skeptical look between her, as if he can't quite discern if she's joking or not, and the plush wrapped around him with its head resting over his shoulder. He picks it up to look it in the face, wearing the same comedically perplexed grimace as he looks into its eyes, clearly coming up with a name off the cuff. After a long, deliberative beat, he turns back to Papa with a flat look and a decisive tone. ]

...Enrico.

[ As natural a name as can be, of course. Why wouldn't this creature be named Enrico...? ]

[Pepa meets his incredulous look with an encouraging smile. Look. She doesn't have to understand Alberto's weird, unsettling toy. She just has to accept it. Because sometimes kids bond with weird, unsettling toys. And that's just a fact of life.]

It's very nice to meet you, Enrico.

[She even pats it on the head before she finds a place to sit and make herself comfortable.]

You like plush toys, Alberto? My son, Antonio enjoys them. Although that may be more because he likes animals than anything else.

[ Pepa is leagues beyond Alberto in how to appreciate this toy. He's its owner and he does not even accept it for itself. Cruel, really. He's looking truly baffled by Pepa greeting the Furby, face twisting up with confusion and skepticism. But nevertheless, he takes a seat next to her, cautiously glancing over the side of the deck at the waves splashing below. He rearranges the Furby more comfortably in his lap once he sits, wrapping it into a coil like a snake. It... doesn't help make it less disturbing. ]

Um— I dunno... I've never had one. I won it...? In a game. On the big dock. I got it cuz it was the weirdest one. It's like—

[ He picks up the face and looks into its eyes searchingly again, grimacing comically at it. ]

Like an eel-bird... A worm-owl? A wowl? I bet your son wouldn't like a wowl...!

[ He raises the Furby's head to look at Pepa, as if it were alive. It has no expression, of course, but somehow, even just the gesture alone is mildly menacing...? At least Alberto's in good humors despite finding himself trapped at sea. ]

I think he would, yes.

[There's a little something melancholy in her smile. Talking about her children... well... In one way or another she doesn't have any of them with her now. And a little cloud starts forming overhead. But she shifts focus.]

What sort of toys do you usually play with?

[ Alberto notices the cloud right away, eyes drifting upwards. He doesn't look quite worried yet, but Bruno's told Alberto of Pepa's powers... He'll be keeping an eye on it, for sure. He glances away awkwardly in thought, though, letting the Furby rest in his lap again, before meeting Pepa's eye again to answer her question. ]

Ehhh— ...Crabs? I mean, when I was little. I don't think I have any toys now. Now I just make stuff, I guess, hah. That still counts as playing.

[ "Crabs" are not toys...? That's— No. That's worrisome. ]

[C-crabs???]

...You mean as pets? The crabs?

[I mean. That's not a normal pet by any means. Especially for a child. But she isn't sure what else to make of that answer???

But also, this sounds like his parents never bought him any toys? Maybe they didn't have any money for things like that?

The alternative... well.]

Would you like some? Toys, I mean?

Uh, no, not pets. I've never had any pets. My friend's dad keeps pet crabs, though? But not my dad. Anyway, playing crabs is just, y'know— I'd go on crab hunts, and then I'd play with them a little while? That's it. At least until they started pinching, hah. Aaaand then later we'd usually eat them, eheh~ Same with snails. I played with snails, too. Oh, and there was a turtle. But we didn't eat him, heh.

[ He's a bit hesitant at first when he begins explaining, but as he goes on reminiscing, there's a certain wistfulness that comes over him, leaving him with a wan smile, gazing absently at the Furby in his lap as he talks. That is, until he mentions the turtle and looks back up to Pepa to crack a sort-of-joke, grinning brighter then. He doesn't often talk about his early childhood, nor his father, but not entirely for lack of fondness; he feels like these are normal enough stories to share without raising suspicions of how abnormal his childhood really has been. Or, of course, the fact that he's a sea monster. All kids play with random animals they found out and about, he assumes — even human kids who have real toys.

But he knows so little about human toys, and never felt like he was lacking as a little kid. They had so much stuff, it was all exciting; he wasn't spoiled at all, yet he wanted for nothing, because anything and everything he and his father collected was like a treasure. And that's still true today — if "hoarding" was a game, he'd be winning. So at Pepa's question, he just shrugs, not knowing better or even realizing she might be offering him toys. ]

I dunno, I guess, yeah? I collect anything — I mean, only cool stuff, heh. But if you think about it, technically anything can be a toy if you want, right? Ha!

[ Like... crabs... Worrisome as all this must be without context, that final statement is somehow rather telling. ]

[He played with the crabs... and then ate them. Pepa is... not entirely sure how to react to that. So she... doesn't. Instead she focuses on the rest. Collecting stuff. How he sort of agrees he wants some.]

Then we should go together to find you some, don't you think? There is a toy shop in town that I think would be fun to check out.

[ It's probably best Pepa passes on commenting, lest Alberto reveal more about his childhood. He does notice her self-restraint after listening to his little story, though, and how his crabs and snails and turtle are smoothly glossed over. It gives a hint of that familiar gnawing worry that maybe what he just said didn't seem all that human... So he's just as eager as she is to push past it, too. ]

I didn't know there were whole stores for toys? I mean... How many kinds of toys are there? Is it just like— a ton animals like these, like at the big-dock-games? Or what?

[ He's envisioning the stands of carnival games on the pier with their walls lined with countless stuffed animals, crawling over ever usable inch of space like so many vines. But given that his father wasn't so cruel enough as to steal toys from human children (usually) and most human men aren't bartering their kids' toys in card games, Alberto really was never exposed to the wide array of types of toys on land. All he's ever known how to do was make his own fun, bound only by the limits of his imagination... and the depths of his boredom. Both are vast. ]

There are so many kinds! The stores I have seen here have so many things I have never seen or imagined before. I have seen stuffed animals and dolls and even things that move! And that is just what I have seen in the windows.

[Pepa's definitely going to be seeing so many things she never would have seen in the Encanto. Toys have come a long way. And it'll be nice to get to know Alberto better. She wants him to know he's welcome with their family. Weird taste in toys, strange personality quirks and all.]

Edited 2022-08-25 22:25 (UTC)

"Things that move...?" What d'you mean? Like what things...?

[ Alberto cocks a brow at Pepa's enthused but perplexed description. At least it's comforting to know that she's not so familiar with the stuff here, either, even if she's got a leg up on him for sure just by virtue of being from, uh... society.

He knows by now the Encanto is a pretty small village by comparison to Portorosso, but from Bruno's descriptions he fancies it's more elaborate than the sea monster village — which is hardly a point of comparison without real buildings or money or stores or anything like that... Not that Alberto would really know all that much anyway. He'd never been into the undersea village proper until after moving to the human town, very shortly before he was ripped away from home and found himself here.

He has a pretty poor mental image of what the Encanto was really like, so he's got no idea what all might be shocking to Pepa. But he's pretty sure all of it will be shocking to him, so as much as he's not usually one to expect any special treatment from anyone, so bent on being self-sufficient, she has caught his intrigue... ]

[Pepa casts about for words to describe what little she saw. Her hands moving as if she can physically conjure the words from thin air and catch them in her hands.]

Ay... you know... they could move! I don't know how they could move. They just could! There was a dancing cat? I would have to show you, I think. Because I have never seen such things before.

[At least they're in the same boat there. So much about Kaisou is new and different from the Encanto. Alberto will find that she won't think anything of him not knowing anything about all the strange, wonderful toys that exist in modern time.]

Wait, wait, wait— a real dancing cat? Like it was magic— o-or super smart or something, haha? Or a fake dancing cat? Liiike—...~

[ He lifts the Furby's head from his lap again, wiggling it at Pepa slowly, bringing it closer and closer to her face so as to make it "dance" for her. At least the mental image of a dancing cat of any type is clearly starting to get his spirits up, cracking a real smile for the first time in their conversation so far, the first time she's seen him so comparatively lackluster. This whole "indefinitely-trapped-at-sea-with-a-ton-of-random-humans" thing has sort of got him on edge, buuut... he also really likes cats. Cats won out, apparently. ]

Yes! Like your Enrico! It was a toy. Like a stuffed animal. But somehow it danced all on its own without anyone moving it!

[She claps her hands as she makes this breakthrough in explanation. By now the clouds have cleared around her and instead a rainbow is forming overhead as her mood brightens.]

[ He narrows his eyes at her with skepticism., pursing his lips in a comedic swallowed smirk. But after a beat, he smiles widely, the corners of his eyes crinkling in a sly glance. ]

...Okay, I know you're not pulling my tail, ha. I've gotta see that, heh! I bet a dancing cat is cute, huh? Even if it's fake. I like cats, all cats're cute~ Well— most cats, hah.

[ Good to know? Dropping so many little details about himself in this conversation... Their first meeting with Bruno was touching and fun, and while it's true that Alberto never really realizes how transparent he often is, for all the facades he puts up, tonight he's really painting quite a fine but totally inadvertent picture of his life, both back home and here. ]

[Pulling my tail is a new one. She likes it. It's quirky and silly and she doesn't catch on at all to the suggestion that Alberto would have a tail to pull.]

I like cats too. I had one follow me home once. I had to give it away though. Because of Bruno's rats.

[ Alberto raises a brow again, looking some mix of dubious and... disapproving? ]

What? Why? The rats don't like cats? Would they gang up on it or something...?

[ Oh, he doesn't like the idea of that, and his face shifts subtly in discomfort as it comes to mind. Gang of angry rats versus one stray cat. Probably a good call Pepa made not taking it in... you know, for the cat's sake.

...This sweet summer child... ]

[...What?]

Cats eat rats, you know? Bruno would be heartbroken if something happened to one of his rats. I gave it to a very sweet boy though. He will take very good care of it.

[ Alberto is looking at her like she's the odd one, here, okay. He nods along a little awkwardly as she explains the cat did find a good home, which he's glad to hear, but... He's still stuck on the rats. ]

Mmn... Good. ...But you know, uhm— cats eat fish, signora.

[ He says quite matter-of-factly, fully confident this is the the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. He's an authority on cats. He lived with a cat for a whole month — half a year ago... But he knows his cat facts!!! Like the fact that they all have bellybuttons — only a cat expert would know that! And he knows for a fact, cats eat fish.

Poor Pepa having to deal with this kid right now... She knew he was weird when they first met — and she's probably heard enough from Bruno to glean a little more — but on this ship tonight, talking one-on-one with Alberto for the first time is... simultaneously elucidating and bewildering. ]

Si. They do eat fish. And mice. And rats. And birds. They eat all sorts of small creatures. At least the ones in the Encanto back home did.

[Look... different worlds... she doesn't know how it works.]

[ Look, Alberto doesn't want to argue with an adult — he wouldn't dream of it, least of all Pepa or anyone else remotely connected to Bruno... But this is throwing him for a loop, trying to wrap his head around... cats. Something no one will ever accomplish. ]

Welllll— maybe Colombian cats are extra hungry...? I know lots of cats, though. In Portorosso, there were like a hundred cats all over the place – it was a fishing town, y'know, so it was a cat town, too, ha. And they all just ate fish. I never saw any cats eating any rats and mouses... Actually—

[ As he makes a case for the noble cats of Portorosso, who stick within the village economy without taking any innocent lives, a lightbulb upstairs almost flickers on. ]

I never really saw any rats and mouses in Portorosso, anyway. I never even heard about rats til I met Bruno. Maybe we just don't have them in— ...P-Portorosso...

[ Aaand the lightbulb upstairs turns on. Alberto's face all but blanches, raising his brows, eyes wide as he averts his gaze, pursing his lips awkwardly. Well, that... was not a dot he liked connecting. Maybe there used to be rats and mice in Portorosso. And it's the Italian cats who are extra hungry...?! O-Oh, no... ]

I don't really know anything about your Portorosso. It's possible.

[But Alberto is looking a little...]

You're looking a bit unwell, Alberto. I didn't mean to upset you. The cats... they need to eat too, you know?

No, no, no, no, no, I know! I know. I guess I just never— thought about it... I mean, I'm not a rat expert, so...

[ So how could he know? His cat expertise didn't extend that far back in history, apparently. Was Machiavelli a secret rat murderer?! About as discomforting a thought as a gang of rats ambushing a cat... Had there been a rat genocide in Portorosso? He liked his first assumption that they just didn't exist there. Hm. ~~Neither is true. They totally still exist. Portorosso is a normal place. Alberto's just... him.~~ He tries to divert the topic, feeling a bit odd now... but after his brief dip into nostalgia for his childhood, talking about playing crabs earlier, his attempt to make things less weird now just shifts the conversation to a different weird... ]

I, uh— I like Bruno's rats? A lot. I never met any rats before. I met a mouse once when I was a little kid, though! I think a bird must've dropped it? That was an interesting day. I remember following it around to see where it'd go, heh — weeeelll, until I lost it, ha... A-Anyway, my point is, it was cute. Mices are cute, too. Eheh.

[ ...The end. Great story, Alberto. Pepa has so little context for what Alberto's childhood was like back home; even Bruno doesn't have all the details in full. So without the "oh, right, raised on an uninhabited island alone in isolation" bit (has he even mentioned simply the "island" bit?!), this mouse story must sound even weirder than the crab story... Th-This is what Alberto did instead of playing with toys...? ]

[Alberto is such a perplexing child in many ways. Pepa continues to chalk it up to being quirky. And having a pretty... unique childhood? She has questions about his parents... instead she gives him a puzzled smile.]

When I was little I used to find them scary. The rats. When Bruno first started picking them up. I didn't like them. But over time they have grown on me. They are cute. In their own way.

[An interesting day following a mouse a bird dropped... she decides to start with;]

So you grew up in Portorosso you said? What was it like?

[ Alberto's brows raise in surprise before he shoots Pepa a genuinely puzzled look. ]

You found the rats scary? Why? They're so cute! Cats are scary — cats attack you! [ Thinking of you, Machiavelli, xoxo. ] Worst a rat could do is, what, bite you? I mean, unless it was a group of rats— but if that many rats are mad at you, then it's probably your fault, hah, y-y'know?

[ ...Still not past the idea of rats attacking in a pack, it seems. He does make a good point, but of course has zero inkling of any stigma against rats, no idea they're known to spread diseases or associated with filth and eating garbage. Bruno's rats eat what he eats. They're happy and well-kept and frankly spoiled. These aren't normal rats. Alberto has no idea that Bruno's affinity for them might be considered odd at all. No clue they're not all that common of a pet; hell, in fact he thinks they might be the best pet he's heard of, because they can freely go anywhere they want (unlike dogs) and won't attack you (unlike cats) — the perfect pet! Bruno'd be proud... ]

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I really like the way you wrote that descriptor of her gestures; nice wording.

Thank you! ;-;

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