15229/Call of Nature

Call of Nature
Date of Scene:	25 June 2023
Location:	Apple Park: Salem Center
Synopsis:	Gabby's out for a run and runs into Alderic. Some beef jerky is shared before he's off again after squirrels.
Cast of Characters:	Gabby Kinney, Alderic

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Gabby Kinney has posed:
The park was a rather nice one, though Gabby hadn't visited in awhile. She hadn't really been in the area to do so. There were closer parks she could use for her daily jogs, definitely, but... She wanted a bit more nature and a bit less 'watching out for potential muggers' that sometimes came with using Central Park. Even if muggers weren't really a concern for her. It was nice to just *breathe* in fresh air that wasn't as heavily polited by nearby cars and buildings.

Dressed in a pair of much-loved high top sneakers, leggings, and a tanktop she jogs along paths with a sure footing and ease of movement that even most seasoned runners couldn't seem to compare to. Why? Because even though she'd been running awhile, she barely seemed out of breath.

Alderic has posed:
    There's a sudden rustle in the underbrush, and a squirrel comes running across Gabby's path! It runs for the nearest tree and climbs up it. What follows is likely wholly unexpected, as a large cougar bursts from the bushes! He practically bowls Gabby over and goes tumbling himself, before he slides to a stop!

    Alderic looks around wildly for a moment, trying to find the squirrel he had been chasing. His eyes and ears are alert, but the squirrel had already disapepared up the tree. It's clear he's not a wild cougar, having a more humanoid shape to him, but he certainly seems to behave that way.

    Having accepted his quarry had vanished, his attention turns on Gabby. He peers at her curiously, and makes a gesture with his hand - a very basic word in sign language. "Sorry".

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Almost bowls her over. The squirrel was enough of a warning for her eyes to dialate in surprise as her own ears catch the sound of an apparent predator coming through to chase after it. When Alderic appears so suddenly she jumps a bit herself to avoid a complete collision. A little jump, and twist in air, has her landing facing the unfamiliar individual while drawing in a deep breath to scent the air out of instinct.

By the time he turns to sign to her she's tense and watching him uncertainly. At least she wasn't as easy to turn to attacks like some of her relatives--She waited to see what was going on first. After all it could just be an innocent accident.

The sign is recognized, and she lets out a breath of air she'd held tight in her chest to flash a grin instead. "Ah, it's okay," she assures giving a little laugh as she helps to chase her tension away. "You startled me. Sorry about the squirrel," she adds realizing *that* was what he was after.

Alderic has posed:
    Alderic stays crouched on his hands and feet, and he watches Gabby with wide, curious eyes. His tail gives a little twitch behind him as Gabby replies. He signs another word, "hungry". He prowls a little closer though he knows better, it would seem, than to approach someone too quickly. He sniffs at the air, taking in her scent as much as she would be able to get his own. He's not without the scents of nature about him, but there's a hint of lavender shampoo as well. Then there's a few more words signed; "You", "Name", "Mine", "Collar".

Gabby Kinney has posed:
All signs she knew, at least. Gabby is quietly glad that he's not signing in the fluent rapid pace sign language that she's seen those who are deaf use. She wasn't that good. Somewhere in the back of her mind she reminds herself to brush up on that as it was a good skill to have none the less.

Twisting to the side she reaches behind her to swing a fanny pack forward. Leggings had no pockets, and though it may not be 'cool', a fanny pack was very useful when out for a run. "I've got an energy bar and some beef jerky if you want?" A look is given to the feline thoughtfully. "Not sure if you're an obligate carnivore or not so far as the energy bar goes, but you're welcome to the jerky." With this decision made she tears open the little pack to open it up, and offer it out while sinking down to crouch.

"I'm Gabby," she offers in return even as her eyes skim to the collar at his throat trying to read it. "I can check to see your name if you're okay with that?" Waiting for a positive or otherwise, she doesn't reach out to check the tag until he responds one way or another.

Alderic has posed:
    Alderic's ears perk up at the mention of jerky, and suddenly he's Gabby's best friend. He bounds the last few paces closer to her, purring loudly. He looks eager and excited, and he's practically rubbing against her with the way he's pacing back and forth now. "Rrowr!" It's an enthusiastic affirmation that he does, indeed, want the beef jerky! While he's so close it would certainly be easy for Gabby to read the plate on the side of his collar. It contains his name, and the words "Subject PCON-04".

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney can't help but laugh at the response. She'd dealt with large cats before, though the tiger she often 'babysat' was a bit different. The rubbing and rowling gets the point across well enough as she takes out a chunk of the jerky to offer with a laugh. "I got it, don't worry. Here you go!"

Indeed her eyes see the tag. A solid scowl comes, that she quickly chases away with another grin. No need to make him think she was angry at him or anything.

"Labs, huh? Yeah, they made me in a lab, too. Guess we have that in common. But being out is great."

Alderic has posed:
    Alderic rumbles deeply as he's given a chunk of the jerky, and almost immediately he settles down to gnaw on it. He looks like a happy cat, and it only takes a few seconds for him to devour that chunk and look for more from Gabby. The mention of labs gets his attention, and there's a nod from the cougar-man. He signs, "bad", "place", "hurt", "cat". There's more purring though, and he finishes with "happy" and "out".

Gabby Kinney has posed:
"Yeah. They hurt me a lot too." Gabby gestures to some of the scars on her face. That was the least of what they'd done, but it was at least a visible portion of it. Her hand dips back into the bag of jerky to pull out a small peice to pop into her own mouth. The majority she intends to give to this fellow though so she places the bag down after that propped open for easy access. "If they come after you and I'm around I'll help out, okay? I already went after the ones that had me. Sometimes they still come looking though."

Alderic has posed:
    Alderic watches the bag of jerky intenetly as Gabby reaches for another piece! He rowls again when she eats it herself, but when the bag is set on the ground, he practically pounces on it. He tears the bag open with his teeth and starts devouring it! He's rumbling happily now, the big puma filling his belly with tasty meat. Somehow he managed to miss the packet of silica gel, or at least he spit it out! When it's entirely gone, he looks up at Gabby again. "Rrowl?" Then he remembers and signs to her again. "More". Whether it's a question or a demand is left to interpretation.

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney can only shake her head a little at the question. "That's all I had of the jerky." She wasn't sure if he could eat the energy bar, but... It was worth a shot. Reaching into her pack again she pulls it out and tears the pack open. "You could try this? It's... not meat though," she points out with a little shrug. "You can try it if you want." It's offered out as well with a faint grin. "Otherwise have to go get some more from closer into the town."

Alderic has posed:
    As the energy bar is offered, Alderic sniffs at it curiously. He takes it from her with his mouth, and bites down into it. He immediately spits it out onto the ground! Alderic sniffs at the energy bar again and bats at it a little with his hand, then looks up at Gabby with another rowl. It's followed with the signs "Not" and "Food"! His tail gives another flick and he shakes his head. "No" and "like" follow. He rumbles again and gives Gabby an affectionate nuzzle, though, in thanks for the jerky at least!

Gabby Kinney has posed:
Gabby Kinney reaches down to ruffle her hand through the top of Alderic's head fur? Hair? At the nuzzle. "Yeah, it's not really good for cats. Probably not for people either," she admits looking at the bitten bar only to shrug and drop the rest of it away. The wrapper is crumpled up so she's not leaving trash at least. Likely some other animal, maybe a racoon, would at least find some nourishment out of it. "Ah well it was worth a try. Glad you liked the jerky though." For a moment she considers, then asks, "Do you usually have to hunt for your food or is anyone helping you out?"

Alderic has posed:
    Alderic's fur has a bit of a waxy texture on the surface, but underneath is soft, warm, fuzzy fluff that keeps him warm, where the waxier fur keeps him dry. He purrs warmly at the ruffle, leaning up into the tough with an eagerness that's quite apparent on his feline features. He shakes his head to her though, and signs a few words. "People" and "help", followed by another rowl and a purr up at Gabby. She helped him out, after all, so that counts!

    There's a sudden noise, though, as another person comes along! The stranger seems to have spooked Alderic, because where he was there one moment, the next he's gone. The cougar pulled a disappearing act, though it's unlikely the last time that Gabby is going to encounter the big cat!