[closed] meanwhile, at telophoroi tower...

[trollophoroi]

WHO >> The Telophoroi guild and their +1s.
WHAT >> A dinner party that will surely be calm and enjoyable for all involved.
WHEN >> 9/15, evening.
WHERE >> Telophoroi @ home.
Content Warnings >> May make you hungry, more added if needed.

ARRIVAL

[ Welcome! Welcome to the Telophoroi Tower, as the guild leader likes to call it, even though only the interior itself will give that impression. It is, after all, instanced like every other guild @ home. The interior is... curious... at best. It's ominous, not even a little bit friendly-looking, all sharp corners and metal floors and walls. Metallic alien-like tubes curl around the walls and the pillars, crisscrossing the high ceilings, and creeping along the edges of walls; it could easily be a dungeon interior, provided it had actual monsters inside.

Greeting the guild members and guests alike is the Guild Grunty with a bowlcut and, just for tonight, a purple butler's outfit instead of its usual cultist robes. It still wiggles its hooves at people as they enter, though, as proclaims, ]

OoOoOo! Welcome... to your doom! [ Wait, that isn't right. It visibly sweats for a second during a pause, then remembers to add, ] And your dinner! Yes, and your dinner, hehehe~

[ It will also offer to take coats if needed, then lead them to the meeting room (now masquerading as a dining room); it's only slightly less intimidating than the rest of the tower and that's only because the lighting is nice, candles have been added, there's some very low classical music playing somewhere in the background, but it is still definitely part of the tower with the table being wicked metal with thinner imprints of those alien-like pipes running wild in the design, and the chairs are massive metal thrones, difficult to move, although green and purple cushions have been added to offer some comfort.

They will also find that there are, in fact, assigned seats.



There are some little Coronation Chicken Pies and Blue Cheese and Pear Appetizers for snacking while they wait as well as Cultist Grunty offering to pour them either champagne or, if they aren't interested in alcohol, some sparkling lemonade.

If asked about where the guild's leader, Fandaniel, is, Cultist Grunty will assure them that he's only putting the finishing touches on tonight's meal and will be with them shortly. ]

IT'S TIME TO EAT

[ And after about a half hour of arrival, the lights of the room... flicker, flicker, and then shut off, plunging the party into pitch darkness. Even the candles go out, though only long enough for people to exclaim or react.

When they come back on, Fandaniel, dressed up in his own butler skin (although it doubles quite well as merely looking fancily dressed), has made his appearance at the head of the table, where his seat had been left empty right up until now. He's standing, arms spread out wide, a grin on his face, and the starter course set out on little plates before them. ]

Hello! Hello, my dear friends. I am so glad that you could all join me for our little dinner party. I do hope you have been enjoying yourselves thus far. Now! [ And lowers his arms so that he can clap them together upon saying that word. ] Let me introduce you to our meal for the evening.

[ And he'll go over what they'll be having tonight! The menu is as follows:

Starter Course: Hot Tofu, a simple dish of tofu and dashi kombu with a little bowl of sauce to pour over it.

1st Course: Chawanmushi with Matsutake Mushroom, a savory egg custard flavored with dashi stock, soy sauce, and mirin, steamed in a cup.

2nd Course: Unadon, grilled eel brushed with sweet and savory unagi sauce and served atop a bed of rice.

3rd Course: Shoyu Ramen, made with a flavorful pork-bone broth with wavy noodles and topped with bamboo shoots, meltingly tender pork belly, and thin-sliced green onion.

4th Course: Tempura Vegetables, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, Kabocha squash, lotus roots, and eggplant deep-fried in a crispy, crunchy tempura batter served alongside a dipping sauce.

And every time a course is finished, the lights will, once again, go off and, when they come back on, the course will be swapped out. It's quite a bit of showmanship, but only possible thanks to Cultist Grunty changing up the room's configuration on the fly as well as the timing it had worked out with Fandaniel. Still! It offers a very mysterious bit of ambiance to the meal. ]

Bit of a Beastly Dessert, Isn't It?

[ Then comes the last course, the dessert course. Once again, the lights go off, they come back on, all the dishes are cleared and new plates and utensils sit before them all. There's more on the platters set across the table but each dish has a serving of sweet potato pie, done in the Japanese style, which is a far cry from what more Western types may expect from a pie like that. It's a flaky pastry, nice and sweet, but not overly so.

Cultist Grunty goes about a glass of a dark dessert wine for all. This time, there is no alternative, but seeing as dessert wines are meant to be savored in a small amount, those who want less will certainly get less. The reason why they're insisting everyone has wine will be apparent soon enough when Fandaniel raises his glass to offer a toast to them. ]

And this is where we end the night, I fear! Our last course, our dessert. Fai was kind enough to lend a hand in the kitchen with it. I would also like to thank him and Hien both for making the little treats we had before the dinner began. They were quite good, were they not? Ah, and, of course! [ He'll nod towards Cultist Grunty in his cute little tuxedo. ] Our dear Cultist Grunty has been an infinite source of aid during the past two days in getting this all set up. He handled all those little light tricks and all the dish swaps.

[ And then to the rest of the party. ]

And to the rest of you, for better or worse... [ At this point, probably worse, let's be real here. ] We've been having an interesting time in this game but I am glad you all took the time to humor me and my desire to hold a little dinner party like this. So, to all of you!

[ And that's the cue to drink and... now for the real reason he wanted everyone to drink the wine. See, Fandaniel has laced it with one of the game's potions, only! Only, well, originally the Potion of Fang and Claw, which should have given them nothing more than some cute animal ears and tails, ends up doing something wildly different.

Everyone who drinks the wine will find themselves turned completely into an animal.

Glasses will tumble to the floor, breaking and spilling wine everywhere. Armor and clothing will pop off as items, unequipped, as they no longer fit their bodies. Surprise! Enjoy spending the next 24 hours as a talking animal! ]

Comments

[tablescraps]

( mithrun gazes from the background )

[worldbent]

[.....Ah... Matoba's head cocks to and fro as he inspects Mithrun. That's a mighty tasty looking rabbit.......]

[Is this predation instinct?? Fascinating.........]

[tablescraps]

( Mithrun slowly, slowly turns his single eye toward Matobird - or, rather, his whole head in that direction, subtle in its gesture - his nose twitching very slightly. He can't tell what it is, but the vibes ... are off. Hmmm. Combat ??? Though, he can't access any of his skills like this...

He is still for a moment. Then, with his little bunny speed, he kicks off and scampers for the table, with the intent to get beneath it. )

[worldbent]

[That's certainly a disadvantage to have, huh?? With his eyepatch having fallen off somewhere, Hawktoba is revealed to have a perfectly functional eye beneath.... Although whether that's just true to his human in-game model or true to real-life is hard to say!]

[The way he leans on his perch as Bunrun starts to sniff at the air makes it pretty obvious what's about to happen, so that by the time he makes his sprinting leap, Matoba goes diving down towards the table with rocketing speed, talon outstretched--]

[SWOOP. He almost runs into the tablecloth on the way, since there's not a lot of runway for a bird to swoop down and back up again, but he manages to snatch a little bunrun up in his talons. This would be kinda neat for the experience of flying, except he could just use the wings boon instead of ...this.]

[There they go... flying up to the eaves of the tower.]

...Ah. I didn't actually think about what to do with you after this, [Matoba comments idly after a moment, looking for a perch to deposit his quarry on.] I just think it's fascinating. Don't you?

[tablescraps]

( Though he doesn't feel fear (fear would ask him to have an anxiety about death or injury, and consequently a desire for life and wellness, and he has none of these), his instinct stills him in Matoba's talons - for the best, because a violent wriggling mid-air would not have ended well if he'd fallen loose.

His little bun instinct tells him he's in vital danger, and to do something about it. Mithrun, more reasonable and unafraid, considers there's not much he can do. He looks down below them, and then tries to crane his head up to view his captor(?) a little better. )

... Following instinct, you mean? It's interesting. My instinct is a constant suggestion to flee, even now, when it's unreasonable.

What does your instinct tell you to do once you've landed?

[worldbent]

Haha, it'd be pretty bad if I dropped you now, huh?

[Flap flap. Matoba soars and spots a wide window ledge in the tower's walls. It'd be a nice spot for a nest, he thinks.... odd as that is. But for now, he deposits Bunrun there on his paws, although his talons still remain gripped over his back to keep him in place.]

It'd be very foolish of you, for example, to try and escape from all the way up here. [His beak clicks, preening feathers, then glancing down at his prey.] I suppose normally, I would be taking you back to my nest and tearing out your throat, but I don't really have any reason to do that.

How fortunate for you. [His talons adjust, like flexing knuckles.] Shall I bring you back down, before my instincts tell me otherwise?

[tablescraps]

( He feels relief despite himself when Matoba sets him down, though the talons on his back don't exactly reassure him that much. He glances down from the ledge - mm. Yeah, he'd break bones jumping down here as a human; probably all his bones and then some as a bunny.

His gaze returns to Matoba, preening above him. Something about this situation... hmm Something about this situation gives him a vibe, but he doesn't know what.

Tentatively testing, he shifts a little under Matoba's talons to see how much wiggle room he's got, but probably finds none. )

Do you really think you'd follow your instinct to its natural end point? Or... are you curious enough to want to?

[worldbent]

[Mithrun is wiggling under him, which makes him want to tighten his talons again. Ah, he had better be careful, or he really will clench too hard...]

No...... I'm not a fan of taking wasteful actions.

And, while I don't think you'd hold experimentation against me, others connected to you might. [Mithrun dying sure taught him that, lol.] That's very inconvenient for me.

So I had better just get you back down there safely......

[Still. It is so tempting to grip his talons down....]

[tylorific]

[ Time doesn't exist so Tylor's ears prick up at the sound of scampering, the sight of something small and fluffy. He'd seen Morgan transform too, so there isn't much mystery when the massive wolf drops down to wriggle his top half under the table to get a look. He reaches a paw to pin the bunny if he can.

There's a Tylor laugh, muffled by a raspy wolf whisper of a bark, more of a friendly teeth gnash as he leans his snout down to sniff at Mithbun. ]

I forgot how tiny you are now. Is it scary being prey? Or is it fun?

[tablescraps]

( He can successfully pin the fluffy, dwarf hotot! His ears indicate he's startled at first, but the laugh gives Tylor away quick enough. His instinct tells him to be on alert, but Mithrun isn't too worried. )

... It's different. ( He closes his eyes as Tylor noses him like >< ) I'm in tune with all my senses all the time... It's a little tiring. Is being a wolf any different?

[tylorific]

[ Tylor forces his body under the table more, the paw not on Mithbun taking all of his weight so as not to crush the tiny thing. He nuzzles the soft bunny fur more shamelessly for a beat and more than one inhale before answering. ]

Mm. Kind of the same, I think. I can smell a lot more stuff.

[ And now the nuzzling and snuffling has progressed to licking, though it's more like one would imagine a wolf to a pup than wolf to prey. The size difference makes the force of even a gentle tongue something to be reckoned with. ]

Like I can even tell how dirty you got from the floor.

[selfconcept]

[ MA, THERE'S A WEIRD RABBIT OUTSIDE—

Hien eventually locks eyes with Bunrun and holds out a hand, calling him while clicking his tongue. Come here, bunny... ]

[tablescraps]

( Mithrun, fluffy hotot that he is, simply gazes at Hien with his one good eye. Fortunately for Hien (at this specific animal-loving juncture), Mithrun doesn't really hold grudges. Fortunately, also, his bunny skittishness is tempered by the fact that Mithrun has no desire to live, and so holds no fear of death.

After a long period of staring and nose-switching, he finally decides to scamper over to Hien's hand. Sniff sniff. The scent profiles of the whole world are so rich and complex right now... )

... You look like you're enjoying yourself.

[selfconcept]

I am.

[ Hm. That sounds like Mithrun. ]

I'm glad you're alive, by the way. I'd like to fight you one-on-one.

[ Priorities. ]

[tablescraps]

( Sniff sniff sniff... Oh. bnuuy peers up at him. )

Is that why you stayed by my body?

( protecting future battle partner... )

[selfconcept]

... A part of it.

[ He can't lie right now. Anyway, he slowly moves to pick up Mithrun by the sides. ]

Very cute. I like this.

[tablescraps]

( "Cute"... He really does like animals, huh.

Mithrun allows it, and becomes as a snowball in Hien's hands. He's now achieved lift. His eye goes a little wider and his ears go a little straighter, surprised anyway. )

... Everything is surprising like this. ( Can't take the skittish out of the bnuuy, even if he feels calm. He's very still. ) Even things I think I expect.

( Like knowing he'll gain elevation if Hien picks him up. )

[selfconcept]

Maybe it's because you're not used to being smaller than you usually are.

[ lol

Hien heard that rabbits like being petted on their forehead, cheeks, and back of neck, so he rubs his thumb over Mithrun's forehead gently. He's not pushing Mithrun's head down. ]

[gluttoning]

[A bnuuy...

The lion that turns the corner around the table goes very still, ears suddenly forward.

...Pounce?

...

It slowly lowers closer to the ground, shoulders drawn. Very still. Watching.

bnuuy morsel...]

[tablescraps]

( Oh. Danger. Ears up. Goes very still. He gets the bad vibes, seeing the big lion in apparent position to pounce. Fight...? No - bad idea.

This statement continues for a short time. Then, with a snap, he darts to the side - trying to dive under the table. )

[gluttoning]

[Brown eyes blow wide and black the second the rabbit runs.

There's a crash of furniture and dishes as the lion pursues, tail lashing, a paw the size of its prey just barely missing as it darts under the table and out of sight.

There's a low rumbling growl as it starts to pad back and forth beyond the tablecloth, too large to properly pursue.]

Rabbit. [It's Barrett's voice. The lion licks at its muzzle. The pacing doesn't stop.] Which one are you?

[tablescraps]

( Safe, but trapped. He remains still at the centre of the table, furthest from all sides as maximally as possible.

However, his ear goes up when he recognizes the voice - though the low growl and the sound of Mr Misteaks licking his chops is not lost on him, either. His instinct tells him to be cautious, but Mithrun himself has no fear of injury or predation. )

It's me. Mithrun.

Are you hungry?

( we are genre shifting to beastars for a moment )

[gluttoning]

Ah.

[The pacing stops as the lion instantly settles to the ground. After a second of the tablecloth being nudged around with his nose, the lion's muzzle appears underneath it, eyes blocked but nose and mouth poking underneath, resting against large paws.]

Hi, Morgan. [He wonders if he could smell him like this... maybe that's a bad idea to try.]

I don't think so. But I liked chasing.

[tablescraps]

( Mithrun stays put where he is for awhile... Then he slowly, tentatively, begins hopping closer.

He puts a paw on Barrett's nose. Hello. )

Do you want to chase again? I don't know if I'm faster than a lion or not, though.

[gluttoning]

[His nostrils flair at the touch, whiskers twitching.

Want to lick. Must resist urge to lick tiny small edible Mithrun..............

*dial up noises*]

I don't know. I'd feel bad if I hurt you like this.

...Maybe outside would be fun.