In Dire Straits
[ACCEPTANCE] What a Lovely Day for a Swim! [Open] - Printable Version

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+--- Thread: [ACCEPTANCE] What a Lovely Day for a Swim! [Open] (/thread-5905.html)



What a Lovely Day for a Swim! [Open] - Cyb - January 20, 2019

The sky above Gemini was a melted mixture of blue and white, winter clouds hazy from the light of a high sun. The seabirds shrieked and called as they circled on the ocean's breeze, arguing about where might be their next meal. The world's water itself even seemed inviting – gentle waves, cold and steady, with the occasional spray against the rocks. The shoreline was full of little aquatic creatures going about their lives, even in the chilly breeze.

How peaceful.

“Goodbye! Thank you for the help!”

If anyone had chanced to be looking in the direction of the sound, they were in for a peculiar sight. In the water that lapped the shore had appeared a stout figure, bouncing slightly, and a distance out in the waves was the wake of a great and dark mass. Some sand was newly visible in the shallows - the lip of a few smooth mounds pushed up and aside.

“Thank you!” a warbly voice continued to call as the shadowy thing slipped fully below the surface far away with a loud sigh.

“Goodbye! Goodb-Hooooo-oo, oh dear,” And suddenly she was out of breath. Happily she heaved herself inland, trundled to-and-fro, bobbing left-and-right in a steadily unsteady gait before dropping her rump into dry sand, her front end sliding down right after.

She was drenched, salt water straight up to her sides and soaking her face, and it was almost as if the wet had washed away the color in her pelt. Her face and limbs were marked with grizzled fur turned wiry gray-and-white on the undersides from ankles to elbows, from snout to eyebrows (if there had been any eyebrows to see). Even the fur in her ears was dripping and decidedly aged. The rest of her coat, shaggy and love-worn like a child's doll, was divided: an earthy brown on the fronts of her legs, chest and belly; a blend of metallic grays on her back, her head, and her tail. All of this splendor was made easy to see by her mass – even standing a bit short she could not be described as anything but “portly” - stocky legs were well-worn pillars made for holding up a widened middle that was saddled on each side by a comfortable pouch of chub. The thickness of her neck and head seemed to imply that half of her parentage might have been by way of a confused bear. No such shenanigans, here, though! Drying-off and delighted, it was clear by scent and by shape that she was merely a broad-set timber wolf.

“Well now,” she asked breathlessly to to the scuttling crabs, her bright-but-filmy eyes taking in the impression of idyllic as she regained her strength, “where did my old friend leave me off in this time, eh?”



[SURPRISE, GEMINI
this entrance is Alpha Rip approved from like 800 years ago I just didn't get around to posting this until NOW]


RE: What a Lovely Day for a Swim! [Open] - Akira. - January 20, 2019

In the distance, perched on one of the sea cliffs, a majestic figure stands against the bitter wind. Her winter coat has puffed up considerably, and the elegant curls inherited from her father's northern blood slaps her right in the face. She can't see a fucking thing.

"I CAN'T SEE A FUCKING THING."

Akira cannot help with this acceptance because she can't see a fucking thing, but she knows all of you will do your best to welcome Cyb's first character in 500 years.


RE: What a Lovely Day for a Swim! [Open] - Echo - January 20, 2019


e c h o //


"I CAN'T SEE A FUCKING THING!"

Echo turned towards the King, who was screaming for some reason, and yelled back, "IT'S OK.  HERE I COME!!", as he leaped form a very low sitting rock, and very much over thought about how low the rock was.  Much like when you think there is another step, and there's not so you, "HERHAKUL" after your spine almost slides out of your body?  That was what just happened.  And much like that experience, Echo made the same noise.  Gingerly stepping away form the rock, trying to put his spine back into it's proper place.  

Lucky for Echo, he was about to come across the most oldest of wolves, (at least one that Rip and Fortune haven't decided to kill off yet as part of a plot...) and not just old, but very pleasant.  Which was something one did not encounter much these days.  After the incident with the orphans, and the incident with Tauro, and the incident with Kayira, and the incident with Saboro..  they needed some WELL DESERVED GOOD THINGS.  So Echo made his way down the beach towards this new wolf, who had washed on the shore?  Did she swim?  Why didn't she drown?  Wasn't she too old?  

Anyway, this was Gemini, weirder things have happened.  

He was glad she was here regardless.

“Where did my old friend leave me off in this time, eh?”

"Hello there, are you alright?  You uh- had quite the swim from... somewhere to here..." Echo said, with a smile on his face.  He spoke as he walked towards her,  "To answer your question you've washed up on the shores of Gemini."  He padded over to her, and gently offered her to lean on him to help her up.  "Let me help you find your feet."  He had kind of, grossly underestimated how much weight this old lady had built up on her bones.  She resembled more a bear than a wolf to be honest, and her weight was a testament to that as well.  But Echo was a gentleman and wasn't going to tell her that he almost gained a hernia assisting her.

When she was firmly on her own four paws again, he stepped back, and dipped his head.  "My name is Echo, Ma'am.  And you can call me your personal escort form here on out."  

Because honestly, was this large old lady a threat to Gemini (LOOKING AT YOU RIP AND FORTUNE SHE BETTER NOT BE), he didn't think so.  And what better place to live out the rest of your life, but this beachfront property.  








RE: What a Lovely Day for a Swim! [Open] - Kariya - January 20, 2019

rude


RE: What a Lovely Day for a Swim! [Open] - Cyb - January 20, 2019

In the distance, the old woman heard what sounded like screaming - only barely different than the cry of the birds above. Perking one ear further up, she craned her broad head around to see if she could spot the source, but no such luck. Ah well! Nevermind that the King of the entire region was getting smacked around by her own hair.

Vernis didn't have to wait long for this mystery to solve itself. If she had seen the poor lad turn himself into a slinky in his eagerness to help said hapless King, she might have chuckled or she might have been Very Concerned - but luckily for him, this had happened far enough in the distance that her eyes had never caught it. All she heard was the scuffle and the sound effects of a failure shortly before the Fringe Dire came into her limited vision.

"Well!" she tittered as he came fully into view, a warm and girlish smile spreading across her softness of her snowy face, "I say I'm much better now!" and this became even more evident as the strapping young thing offered his side as a way for the lady to boost herself up. She took his offer gratefully, none the wiser that he would struggle under her density, bracing against him to sway back into a more standing position with her broad forepaws planting firmly under her. "My goodness, what a polite young man you are helping an old thing like me. And so handsome, too!"

She had not heard of this place before, and she chuckled when he asked if she'd swam here. "In my younger years I might have swam, but no, I just landed and walked a bit! An old friend gave me a ride on her back. She had visited the waters close to this beach and seemed to think this was the right place for me to be." She thought back to her journey and shook her head slowly. "Those big whales don't always make sense, you know, but we've known each other since I was just a little pup! So I trust her." She said this matter-of-factly. What, didn't everyone make friends with giant sea creatures?

He had so much to say, and was so ready to offer help. What an eager thing! "Echo! It's so nice to meet you. This Gemini seems like it must be a wonderful place. I've never been given my own escort before!" Her ears twitched and fanned forward and backward - a tell that she was embarrassed, but she would never admit this. "My name is Vernis, but please, call me Granny. Are you sure you have time to help me find my way? Do your parents know you're out here this close to the water?" Nevermind that he was clearly and squarely an adult. He might catch a cold.


RE: What a Lovely Day for a Swim! [Open] - Echo - January 21, 2019


e c h o //

She reminded him of his own grandmother, she used to tell he and Rey stories of old, and would always muse over them, even when their father insisted she not.  This old lady sure brought back good memories, even though he had no idea who she was.  She even smelled nice! Which was weird to say out loud in his head.  He couldn't help but smile when she regarded how handsome he was, in fact she had been the only lady to ever mention that to his face, so it was kind of endearing. "I appreciate that Ma'am, I don't get swooned over a lot."  He joked, as she finally found her footing, swaying into an upright position.  This is when Echo was able to stand back a bit and get a better look at her, as she told him of how she got here.  He nodded along with her story, but did a double take when she mentioned a ... whale?

She rode here on a...  whale?

"I'm sorry are you implying you ... rode here..  on a - a whale?"  He asked, a bit dumbfounded, and equally impressed.  He had yet to even see a whale, and she had befriended one, and RODE ON ITS BACK!? "That's, pretty damn impressive, excuse my language, but- "  He stared at her, mouth slightly agape.  Old people really could do whatever the hell they wanted couldn't they?  He shook his head, as she continued on, trying to regain whatever dignity he had left.  "It is quite beautiful here, lots of nice and friendly folks.."  

And a few others not so friendly, "I'm sure you are going to like it here, that is, if you want to stay."  Which he hoped she would say she would, something about her was-  reminded him of home.  And there she went again, Vernis- or Granny, asking him if his parents knew he was out here.  He couldn't help but laugh, he was a grown adult, who had a job- two jobs actually, and yet here she was.  Washing up on shore, soaking wet, riding on the back of a fucking WHALE, and asked him if he was sure he had time to help her.  

He smiled gently, lips pulling back and threatening a laugh, "Gran.  Please.  It would be my absolute pleasure and honor to get you where you want to go, perhaps along the way you can tell me about your whale friends."  And then, he did laugh, a good bottom of the soul laugh, "My parents know exactly where I am at all times, I tell them regularly."  He said smiling up at the starry skies.

"Come on then Gran, let's get you dry and fed, you've got to be tired of fish."












RE: What a Lovely Day for a Swim! [Open] - Cyb - January 21, 2019

"Oh, come now, a strong boy like you? I bet you get called to rescue all the girls," she scolded conspiratorially, her honey eyes twinkling in their sleepy lids. But she saw the surprise switch onto his face and seemed to puff outward with a mix of humility and pride (she would never know what the word 'humblebrag' meant). "Well of course, dear! A sea turtle would be too small, even if there were two! It's not so hard, if you're patient," she lifted one big paw off the sand and slightly motioned toward the water and opting to let his curse pass because he excused himself properly, "My own grandfather taught me, he said to me," - and she put on a deeper, sterner tone to quote - " 'Now keep your nose pointed at me, missy! If you hear the whale singing, you must always try to sing back. It's only polite. After all, you can't know at first whether or not that whale might have been singing just for you!'"

Of course, Vernis chortled at her own impression - a brilliant likeness of the old man, if she did say so herself!

Stay? She considered a moment, taking in the sight of this healthy and muscular Dire on a lively section of beach, the smell of salt wind and the scent of another wolf who seemed healthy and happy, the bright sky above. Her friend had dropped her here, and she did trust her, did she not? "It would be my pleasure to stay here - if your Gemini pack will have me, they sound so nice," she said this was eager emphasis, she really meant every word, and seeing this young man so vibrant made her fill with joy. It was the old girl's chief desire in life to see that others were loved and well cared-for, and here was a fine example, taking time out of his busy day to help her find her way in this new land. He even spoke regularly to his parents!

"A drier spot would be lovely, and you are right about the fish!" As he moved to motion them both inland, Vernis gave a small grunt as she lurched forward into a slow but purposeful, swaying gait. Of course she would tell him stories. She was more than happy to oblige. "Well you see, the first thing to know about whales is that although they're all very big, there are many different kinds, and they each have their own opinions about how things in the sea should be run...."


RE: What a Lovely Day for a Swim! [Open] - Echo - January 27, 2019


e c h o //

Echo could not help but let all the anxiety and grime form the past few days just melt away as he spoke to Gran.  She was incredibly easy to talk to, and had a way of taking whatever toil you had won your mind, and just whacking it away as if it were a fly.  Gemini as a whole could most certainly benefit from talking to Gran, especially Serrate.  The poor Queen needed a breather.  Or five.  

He laughed a bit nervously when Gran mentioned him rescuing the girls.  In reality, he had tried to rescue the girls, the knight in shining armor, coming to save the damsels from the big bad dragon, or evil witch, or in some cases, the big bad pack.  Only, it never ended in a happy ending with him.  They always- went with someone else.  Sure, Echo was happy for them and their happy ending, but-  he could only wonder when he was gonna get his.  He did deserve one after all?  Right?  Maybe he didn't, who knew. "Oh sure, I think I may have rescued the most beautiful one of all this evening though."  He played off her words, not wanting to divert from the good mood they had going at the moment.  He remained by her side, and silent, gazing down at the smaller, but much broader lady.  Hanging on every word, even chortling slightly at the very well put impression she had attempted.  

But he got even more engrained in her words when she decided she was going to stay in Gemini, and he was enthralled.  "I can't tell you how happy that makes me that you decided to stay.  It would be an absolute honor to have you stay here Gran."  He said smiling, thinking especially of the orphans that were roaming around, and how much they would enjoy a grandmotherly figure googling over all of them.  After all they've been through, they needed a positive influence.  

And with those words, she was off!

Slowly, and lumbering, but with Gusto! Towards the inner workings of Gemini, soon to meet all the hopeful souls that lived in this enchanted place.  Echo smiled, walking beside her, humming along as Gran continued to tell him stories of her home, and of the whales.  

Perhaps, he didn't really need a happily ever after, after all.  







**@Cyb we can totally continue this if you want, or we can call it quits! Up to you! Either way, everyone welcome Granny Vernis to Gemini!