apocalypsehowcomm | [open network - video] backdated to beginning of August

Who: Delloso de la Rue
Username: rue
Warnings: mentions of murder/dissection, non-human

[After the last few difficult months here, is it any surprise that the first network message from Rue in some months now comes with none of the cheerful optimism and excitement of their last? Instead, the owlbear looks exhausted, tightly wound and deeply troubled.

Something they have recently learned has set them on edge.]

I am afraid I must be the bearer of unfortunate news.

Though our numbers have dwindled greatly these last few months, there are still those of us non-humans simply trying to live in this world. But I have recently been informed by Nia that there is a greater chance of danger coming for us. My worst fear about being seen by humans was the terror the sight of me would incite, but now I have learned that was only the beginning.

Pray, if you are weak of constitution, I beg of you to turn this off. I do not wish to distress anyone, only to inform.

To put it plainly, Nia said that if we were discovered by those government forces outside of ADI, that we would very likely be killed and dissected. Such news has weighed heavily on my heart, I can not think how any of us are meant to reaction to such horror.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

What's the difference between you and a true fey? [Mercy cocks her head at that.] The pictures I was seeing on the internet for 'fair folk' all look like your glamoured form, not you. Are they all like elves?

I was born a wild beast in the mortal realm. I only became a fey once I had been taken to the Feywild and the magic of that world took hold of me. A true fey would be a fey born into that magic.

Appearances can certainly very, some look more like bugs, some more like beasts, but I would say in my court, the elven appearance was most common.

So... this ain't the first time in your life you've changed worlds.

[She offers a small smile.]

Reckon that's why you're good at catching on and managing. Even when things is hard.

[Rue pauses mid-step, so taken back by that comment. Their eyes blink owlishly, slow and thoughtfully, before their big-eyed expression is turning on Mercy.]

How strange! I had never once even considered such a thing! That could be very true. Even though I have often thought of being from the mortal realm, I don't know if I've truly considered the full gravity of such words before.

[Mercy stops with them, brows rising at their response to the observation.]

I reckon this is a very different mortal realm than the one you new at home, anyroads. Not s'many owlbears roaming Gloucester, aye?

Or harborside aquariums?

[She motions down the block to where she can see the tanks set up.]

[Rue's eyes blink slowly.]

I suppose it must be. For the whole of my life, I have been the only owlbear that I've ever known. As much as I should like to find another, I doubt we will find one in the aquarium. Come along, let us see which fish need rescuing.

[Rue is all too happy to guide the pair of them closer, doing the normal dance of smiling and greeting humans while also simultaneously avoiding letting anyone bump into Rue's true form. Thankfully, they are quite experienced in it.]

[She can't even imagine. To have no one of your own species around would be heartbreaking. But then... they had still found Hob. She'd... sort of been assuming he was another type of owlbear. One more bear than owl.

The aquarium awaits, though, and Mercy's not keen to draw attention to Rue's potential loneliness.]

Aye!

[The aquarium, itself, is very 'small tourist attraction' in nature. There are fish that look a little too big for their tanks, a big pool with starfish and other such sea creatures that have a few children poking around. Mercy looks around a bit before setting eyes on a small shark being kept in a tank that looks like it can barely turn. She gives Rue a nudge.]

Looks kinda close in that cage.

[Mery is such a dear for that. Rue has been lonely enough, they want to spend the time they have with their dear friend enjoying every moment.

And hopefully, not getting tazed again.

Though the moment that they arrive, Rue knows it could very well be a possibility.]

We can not allow them to be kept here like this. Look at how small their tanks are.

Right. We oughta figure out if we need to put 'em in the river or the ocean. Let's investigate a little. I'll read the plaques around if you wanna talk to one of the folks that look like they're in charge.

[She gives a smart nod, leaving Rue to the diplomacy while she does her own investigations. There are two people who look like they could be 'in charge' here. A bored-looking, bespectacled teen behind the cash register, and an older woman moving around, tidying displays. They're both wearing the same shirt with a smiling fish patch at the breast and blank trousers.]

[A quick nod at Mercy before Rue approaches in a swish of swirling skirts and a too-charming smile.]

My dear friends, good afternoon. Your shop is quite new in town, is it not?

[The woman looks up with a cheesy grin.]

That we are, miss! Just a week or two now. Got some fine fishes for you to enjoy.

[She points to one of the tanks.]

My son helped to catch some of our new friends.

[As Rue is talking, Mercy takes a look at the placards and starts... casually looking around for a bucket she might use to abscond with some finned friends.]

[rue's life is suffering

Truly, they deserve a medal for not reaching across the register and slapping this woman.]

Caught you say? So these creatures were not even raised in captivity, they were simply snatched out of their own homes instead?

Well-

[The woman's smile falters as she's clearly caught off-guard. She puts on what is clearly a very Customer Service smile and tone. The young man is looking over now, as well.]

N-no! No, of course not. I just mean- He went and picked them up at the store, of course. We procure all of our animals in an ethical manner.

[Mercy rolls her eyes off to one side, but leaves Rue to it as she snatches up a bucket and heads toward the touch pool that's been set up to collect water. She wants to get the biggest fish out, but she's not sure she can do that without getting caught. Some of the smaller ones are more feasible. They can come back at night to rescue the rest.]

[There is a moment where Rue's gaze slides to Mercy and they lock eyes, and in that moment, the owlbear knows exactly what their friend is doing.

Their expression brightens considerably, as if they've been perfectly convinced by that terrible lie.]

That's exactly what I thought! Why, would you all quite mind if I took a picture of you both for the local paper? I wanted to highlight such a new establishment to assist in getting some exotic fish sold!

The local- oh! Oh, yes, of course. Jeremy, come over here, dear.

[The woman beckons her son, and Mercy flashes a small grin at the owlbear before going to work. In a matter of minutes as Rue takes their 'interview' with the pair, Mercy has absconded with nearly all of the smaller fish. She carries her bucket (and a second one she'd picked up) off the premises and around the side of the building.

Rue receives a text shortly after:]

Rescue mission partially accomplished, my friend! Join me and we will plot freedom for the current fish and how we might rescue the rest.

[It isn't until Rue is free of the the pair of them that they slip outside and get a chance to peek at Mercy's text. It's ridiculous the swell of pride in their chest at this perfect heist and the fact they are going to give one small creature an infinitely better life than they would have had in that shop.]

I adore you! The rest of the fish will come next, even if we must save them one by one!

[open network - video] backdated to beginning of August

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