Fifty Forth Sip

[mal_addict]

[Maladict has finally headed out to see that stupid terror bird James insisted on bringing back to the castle with him. Really, she'd imagined something far more fearsome than what actually greeted her. She'd been thinking of something more akin to a dragon (an imaginary one, not a swamp one) all fire and scales and leathery death.

It was a bit of a letdown, really. Still, as it struts around it's new home, Maladict pulls out her journal to dictated into it. The Peace Patrol might be long gone, but she still feels she has a job here]

So, help the non-Earth person out here. What can you people tell me about these giant birds? More specifically, how easy is it to bring them down? Do they have any weak spots? Things like that.

I like to prepare for the inevitable moment when it gets loose and tries to slaughter us all.

[Yeah, James, that disapproving tone is directed right at you]

Comments

dictated.

[shrugs_a_lot]

It won't get loose.

Maladict

[unnaturalpause]

[...REALLY? Really? Filtered to her because he's paranoid and if they fight Nikola doesn't need to hear about it yup. But no he's already thought about this. Sort of.]

So long as it's on this side of the Dead Zone, aim for it's head. It's just like any other creature unless you insist upon melee combat with it.

forever!

[mal_addict]

Oh really? What if something attacks the castle? Or we have a natural disaster again?

James Watson

[mal_addict]

[The filter makes her doubly suspicious, because of course she doesn't think about Nikola's feelings in all of this. What are you hiding, James?]

Sometimes you're forced into melee combat, so humour me anyway.

Maladict

[unnaturalpause]

[He doesn't want your boyfriend trying to kill his research subject, okay?]

It's like any other long necked creature, aim for the neck if you're fast enough. Avoid it's beak, and hope you're fast enough to not get eaten or kicked to the ground.

[That sounds like he has personal experience with that part, yup.]

James Watson

[mal_addict]

[But if it asks for it, then its fair game]

Right, given me suddenly losing my powers, I should be fast enough. [Pause]

Thanks for the concern there, that's touching.

[shrugs_a_lot]

I'll make sure it doesn't hurt anyone.

[mal_addict]

And if you're unconscious, dead or sent home?

[shrugs_a_lot]

[Well, damn.]

It wasn't so hard to bring it down... It gets distracted by shiny things, if that helps.

...

Just try not to kill it if that happens.

[mal_addict]

Shiny things, duly noted.

I onyl kill things that try to kill me first.

[shrugs_a_lot]

Good to know.

[mal_addict]

I take it you helped James bring the bloody stupid thing back here?

[shrugs_a_lot]

[Gulp...]

... It's not that stupid.

[mal_addict]

It's dangerous and if it's intelligent then that makes it even more so.

[Boy she will find you and punch you if this thing gets out]

[shrugs_a_lot]

I know...

[A beat.]

I shouldn't have let him bring it.

[mal_addict]

Not really, no. James has a bad habit of doing things for science without thinking of the ramifications beforehand. When handling him, think about it in terms of giving a kid a puppy. Should you really do it, just because he wants it?

dictated

[vampirize]

[He laughs. OH MALADICT, NEVER CHANGE.]

Already preparing for the worst, Mal?

[shrugs_a_lot]

Thought it was a good idea in that moment... Learn about this place and all.

[A beat.]

I was wrong. [Congratulations, that's pretty much the first time he's said it. Ever.]

[mal_addict]

[She'll consider herself special for getting it out of him]

Oh well, you live and learn. Now all we have to do is make sure it never hurts anyone.

forever!

[mal_addict]

When it comes to things that can eat other residents, yes. Even more so if it's one of James'... little pets.

and ever!

[vampirize]

Oh, trust me, back home he had tons of critters around him. And so did Helen. They did tell you about the Sanctuary, right? Hoarding things like that in one place is kind of what they do.

How bloodthirsty is it, exactly?

[shrugs_a_lot]

I... [Can he even trust this person? Oh well.] I've been thinking about returning it where it belongs after James is done. Before they tame it too much.

[mal_addict]

[At least she has the rest of the castle in mind]

It's quite a long trip back to Lastlook. But that's a good idea.

[mal_addict]

Yes, they did, and I don't want that to happen here. This place is full of people who can't defend themselves, adding dangerous wildlife is just asking for trouble.

From what I read on the journals, they attack without provocation.

[shrugs_a_lot]

It's long, but it wasn't so hard.