[Day 5, Late Morning] The Bare Necessities (Open)

[Calico Carter]

"Wellllll..."

She made a seesaw motion with her hand.

"Milo's an orphan whose aunt looks after him, Felix- the guy with the temprill?- is a boundless well of optimism and enthusiasm, and, uh, seems... interested in me. Rayfe Drathmire seems loaded, and his heart's in the right place. He came here hoping to get Nyx adopted by someone who'd take care of her, but he seems to have warmed more to the idea of keeping her... uhm. There's Desmond, but I haven't seen him in a while..."

[Mara Froste]

'A-are we looking to adopt Milo?' Mara raised an eyebrow. 'I mean, I am more than happy to feed more people if it's a better living situation for him.'

'Felix is interested in you? How do you feel about him?' Mara asked cautiously.

'That Nyx did seem well cared for and I've heard of his family's ranch before. They're a good line of breeders and racers. I didn't get a chance to meet Desmond.'

[Calico Carter]

'A-are we looking to adopt Milo?' Mara raised an eyebrow. 'I mean, I am more than happy to feed more people if it's a better living situation for him.'

"Oh! Uh... maybe not adopt adopt, but... I... he's dealing with some weird crap that nobody seems to believe when he tells them about it, so... I mean, we could.. make him a junior partner or something?"

'Felix is interested in you? How do you feel about him?' Mara asked cautiously.

"Uh... conflicted? Like, I like him, and maybe like like him, but I don't know for sure because I've known him less than a week?"

'That Nyx did seem well cared for and I've heard of his family's ranch before. They're a good line of breeders and racers.

"He's also a bit warmer than he seems at first once you get to know him. I don't know if he'd join us so much as, you know... float our business' name among his peers."

"I didn't get a chance to meet Desmond."

"Smart kid, and that zephid of his, Lucy? Tough as nails. That said, his mom's kind of... helicoptering around him. Passionate about vermin, though."

[Mara Froste]

'Sounds good either way and I always like having more mouths to feed. I saw something really unnatural myself the other day when Fiadh was cooking so I am inclined to believe him.' Mara shuddered a little mentioning the cooking incident.

'Ah... OK. Well, be careful and take your time and get to know him. It'd be good if you find someone who can make you happy!'

'Having our name spread around would help too. I'll take anything we can get. Lucy was amazing when she threw that rock. I'll help anyone, and feed anyone that you think needs the help. I'd like to make a comfortable home for people and monsters. It may take a while, though.'

'Where do you intend to set up? Southern Arensa might not be the best as I suspect my mother may try to mess with us.'

[Calico Carter]

"Wellll, unless I repair my reputation, I don't think Amoria's the best bet either...Rosalia's not exactly the most welcoming to foreigners..."

She started scratching the back of her head.

[Mara Froste]

'Hrm... either way we'll need to save some money. Get some initial funds, look into how much a plot of land goes for. We'll make it happen, though!' Mara dropped her the basket, and hugged Calico quickly, 'we'll do it, together, okay?'

Blitz took the opportunity to sneak another packet of dried fish in with the groceries.

[Calico Carter]

And Orlok, of course, did his part to distract the humans from noticing Blitz's action- not that he needed to bother.

Calico hugged Mara back, then stepped back with a grin.

"Count on it!"

[Mara Froste]

Blitz looked around and added another pouch. Who knew shelf stable nappen blood could be bought in the grocery aisle?

[Calico Carter]

Orlok's approval of everything to do with his mate continued to grow.

For her part, Calico was doing her best not to dwell on poor little Talia or to let Mara's thoughts drift to her more than they already would.

"So, we have the beginnings of a plan... and I've just opted to upgrade my phone from that brick I've been carrying around, so it'll probably work better..."

[Mara Froste]

Mara pulled out her own cell phone, 'I just realized I didn't have your number.' Her phone was old, but serviceable, though cracked. She pushed a few buttons and flipped it around to show her number so Calico could take it down.

In a strange twist of fate, Blitz stood up next to Calico on her hind legs and lightly bumped against her. The feline stretched her paws up, and gave Calico the biggest puppy-dog eyes she could manage.

[Calico Carter]

"Aw, Blitz, knock it off!"

Calico reached down to scratch the staguar behind the ears.

"It's just not fair!"

[Mara Froste]

Mara looked down, and snorted. 'That's a new one. She wants you to pick her up. She doesn't do that with anyone but me.'

'Not fair?' She looked quite confused, 'you lost me.'

(Lost me ooc too)

[Calico Carter]

["Not fair" is Calico's comment that Blitz's big cute kitty eyes constitute an unfair advantage in manipulating her ]

"Being that cute constitutes an advantage I can't do anything about."

She scooped the antlered feline up.

"I mean, if it's what you'd like..."

Orlok took the opportunity to land on Calico's back.

"Getting buried under monsters here."

[Mara Froste]

Blitz took the wonderful opportunity to lick Calico's cheek with her rough tongue and nuzzle into her neck. Her mate's purple human was great!

Mara smiled, stunned by the behavior, 'Blitz is a sweetheart, but this is a bit far even for her norm. I guess she's decided we're keeping you around.'

'Come on Blitz, Orlok... somebody... she can't hold both of you for long.' Mara leaned in to take Blitz back, pausing a second in an awkward sort-of hug as the feline licked Orlok once.

[Calico Carter]

"All right, all right, we'll let you two try again as soon as possible, all right? Happy?"

Orlok fluttered his wings in what seemed to be an affirmative.

She gave Mara a somewhat awkward smile.

"I get the feeling it's gonna be like this a lot on the road."

[Mara Froste]

'Yeah, it might be.' Mara grinned, 'she takes well enough to you, that you might be able to use her in a battle. I've heard of some offspring learning from their parents, and some monster families being so tight-knit they fight better when they're near each other. Wonder if these two will get to that point.'

[Calico Carter]

"They... seem intent on it, anyhow!"

She made to hand over the staguar.

[Mara Froste]

Blitz licked Calico one last time and let Mara hold her. Mara went to pick up the basket, 'huh?? How am I supposed to cook... oh! For Orlok, eh? I guess I can try my hand at sausages with any leftovers. You'll probably eat it anyways, eh Blitzy?'

'I hope you like fish and seafood, Calico. I think there might be a lot in the near future.'

[Calico Carter]

"I expect I'll live. And Orlok... well. I've just been microwaving blood for him during my stay here."

She cocked her head at the bug on her back.

"You into fish blood, buddy? Think you might need to learn."

Chitter.

[Mara Froste]

'That or we are all eating blood sausages and black pudding.' Mara rolled her eyes as Blitz chirped her approval.