17790/Cougar Mania!

Cougar Mania!
Date of Scene:	27 April 2024
Location:	Queens Giant Garden
Synopsis:	Alderic encounters Mania in the park, they quickly become acquainted and then decide to pursue a late dinner!
Cast of Characters:	Alderic, Andi Benton

---

Alderic has posed:
    Sure, there are plenty of signs about, insisting that no one climb the tree at the center of the garden. Alderic, however, has never been one to adhere to signs, largely because he cannot read. Often keeping himself hidden from the public view, this night found Alderic prowling about the public space while it was largely deserted. He found his way to the tree, and naturally, leapt up into its limbs. He is comfortably lounging among the trees branches now, draped along one with one leg dangling down, and his tail idly twitching back and forth while he watches the park below.

Andi Benton has posed:
What was Mania even doing here, in the middle of an area that's more forest than city? It's definitely not as easy to traverse with weblines compared to concrete, steel, and glass, which probably explains why the strange-looking creature is strolling through the place on foot.

And what a strange-looking creature it is, clad all in black with a large spider insignia front and back, along with a 'masked' face dominated by overly large, expressive white eyes. Then there's the punk aesthetic, seen in the form of spiky bits in the forearms and shins. Even the hair has an exaggerated appearance.

<<Mania>> What are we doing here, Andi? This place is boring.
<<Andi>> That's your opinion. What, you don't like getting out of the city where it's quieter and not as stinky?
<<Mania>> Those are not bad things, but there is no..
<<Andi>> I know. No chocolate. We can get some later.

The internal conversation carries on as Mania makes her way deeper along one of the paths. The place is quite deserted at this hour.

Alderic has posed:
    Alderic was just beginning to doze off when he heard the sound of footsteps. His ear twitches and then perks, and he lifts his head to peer down at the unusual creature. Though, of late, unusual creatures were quite common in his experience! Mutants and superhumans abound, after all. Curiousity has got the cat, as they say, and with graceful movements the mountain lion begins to deftly drop from branch to branch, until finally he is on the lowest one that will support his weight. It's still quite a few feet from the ground, but the feline man drops from the tree with ease, landing on the path with an audible thud. His attention then turns back to Mania, the prowling form of the cougar curiously moving towards her on all fours. His tail twitches high in the air behind him, and his nostrils flair as he sniffs curiously for a scent!

Andi Benton has posed:
Mania's scent is quite unusual. Hard to place. Female, as a look at the body would confirm, but also something that's not of this planet. Alien, if one had to guess. Mania hears the sound, directing attention that way in time to spot the roughly humanoid..cat coming closer? It leads to an eye growing larger than the other, a show of interest. "Ooh, it's a big kitty," comes a voice, or part of a dual one, sounding more curious than anything else. Hands come to rest at hips, near the spiked belt.

Alderic has posed:
    Alderic does the best he can to make himself visible. He's not hiding, not trying to ambush her. Once he's noticed, he pauses mid-step, one arm stretched out in front of him, one leg stretched out behind. He peers back at the dark figure, his own expresion one of curiosity. "Rrowl?" He ventures a vocalization, raspy-sounding in its nature. He might be trying to say hello! Or it might be a warning. Though he certainly deosn't seem like he's on the offensive - at least, not yet. For the time being, he just seems like a really big cat-man who's curious about this person who has wandered into the park at such an unusual hour!

Andi Benton has posed:
Peering at this apparent hybrid of man and feline, Mania reaches up to rub at the back of her head in thought. Of all the things to see here. At least to begin with, the more alien side of Mania is definitely wondering what this is all about, to the point that a mimic of his own "Rrowl?" is offered back, the eyes giving away interest to see how that's taken.

Alderic has posed:
    Alderic's ears perk a little when she mimics his rowl back at him! He tilts his head curiously. It seems he's just as interested in her as she is in him, and slowly he starts to approach her again. He's sniffing at her, rumbling warmly. He might just want to make a friend! At least he isn't trying to eat her or anything.

Andi Benton has posed:
Trying to eat Mania would not likely have a good outcome, but the overall lack of aggression so far is noted. It's an approach from someone seeking to figure out more, so she holds her ground with her hands back at her hips again, watching and waiting. "And who are you?" she wonders, not clear yet on the potential communication issue.

Alderic has posed:
    Alderic's ears perk at her question. He can answer that one! His movements quicken, and soon the cougar is within arm's reach. He settles down into a crouch in front of Mania, peering up at her. "Rrow!" he announces, and turns in such a way as to show off the plate on his collar. It at least explains where he came from, and what his name is!

Andi Benton has posed:
Mania holds her position, not giving off any sort of fear indicators at all. There's likely a reason for that. "Oh, what's this?" She extends a couple clawed fingers, touching the collar's tag to read it. "Alderic," she says, speaking the name rather than the other info. "Did someone..create you?" The question is a direct reaction to that other info.

Alderic has posed:
    Alderic answers her question with a resounding "Rrowr!" It's likely a confirmation, as he does seem rather unique in his nature, at least. He settles back a moment later, his tail giving an idle flick as he peers up at Mania now. There's a curious tilt of his head, along with an inquisitive-sounding "Rrowrl?" as though he were asking about her!

Andi Benton has posed:
"It's complicated," is all Mania says. Whether it's an indication she understands his 'question' or not is uncertain, but probably close enough. Her attention diverts to their surroundings before returning to him, back to squinting. In the process, he'll likely see that a pair of feline ears have taken shape atop her head, in front of the spiky hair. They perk up, attentive and focused on him.

Alderic has posed:
    Alderic's own ears perk up when he notices the feline ears on her head. She didn't answer whatever question he was asking, but the cougar is even more intrigued! "Rowr!" he announces, before bounding to his feet again. Excitedly, he circles around her, sniffing and investingating. He's trying to figure out what her deal is, apparently, because she smells all kinds of different from what he's used to around the city!

Andi Benton has posed:
Mania makes a sound akin to a 'chrr' of sorts. "Oh, did that interest you?" she asks, before an ear even flicks. Maybe there's some internal chiding going on at the moment, for she seems distracted briefly. Still, she watches the whole checking out process, crossing her arms if in a relaxed way. She's comfortable, confident, still curious in her own way as she studies body language so far.

Alderic has posed:
    Alderic seems to come to a conclusion about this person, as they simply watch him while he investigates further. "Rrowr!" he answers her, before suddenly nuzzling up against her side and stomach! It seems he's decided that she is a friend, and a warm, rumbling purr can be heard coming from the big feline man!

Andi Benton has posed:
Maybe Mania just has a way with the cats. Friend to all! "Heh.." she says, the nuzzle coming from a much larger type of feline than she's used to seeing. All the same, a clawed hand slips around the side of his head, giving a few scritches in good places. Of all the spots to run into somebody, or something like this. In both their cases. "Were you just sleeping out here?"

Alderic has posed:
    Alderic rumbles deeply at the scritching, tilting his head up to get those fingertips under his jawline! "Rowr!" he replies to her, answering her question with a vague vocalization that could mean anything. Though it probably means yes, considering the context. He turns from her to look up at the tree again, then back to her, as though to emphasize that point!

Andi Benton has posed:
A tree cat, confirmed. But now what? Mania stays focused on the one who can apparently only communicate in cat language, causing her generally faceless head to angle toward one side as she keeps with the scritching. The rumble is clear, something that amuses at least one half of the bond. "Maybe we should go get something to eat," she suggests, glancing in the direction leading back out of the secluded area.

Alderic has posed:
    Alderic doesn't let up with the nuzzling while that scritching is going on, the puma-man apparently easily seduced by the wiles of scritching fingers. He purrs loudly as he leans into her touch, his head tilted back to give her access to his chin and throat as well. His ears perk at the word 'eat' though, and he answers with an affirmative "Rowl!" He even goes so far as to straighten up a bit in his squat and pat his stomach, following it with another enthuastic vocalization! It seems the cougar is in agreement!

Andi Benton has posed:
"Then let's go find something. We were thinking of sushi," Mania answers, not really thinking about the fact she's holding a conversation, if oddly one-sided, with this creature. She's shorter than he is, though when he crouches it puts them on a more even level, and their path leads back through the woods en route to other places.