fifth evocation ✧ orthrus

[complementing]

Minako Arisato June 9th near Birch Hills

Hi everyone, it's me again. I'll try and keep it short and sweet this time. First. Last month, during that week when everyone was super tiny, there were a lot of people who wandered into the woods because they heard voices calling out to them. It doesn't seem like whatever was calling to us is there anymore, thankfully, but I think this is a perfect chance to go back and go deeper into the forest, as deep as we can go to see if we can find the source of those voices, or anything else that might be there. I'm planning this thing for the 18th, and I wanted to know if anyone else wanted to come with. Keep in mind that even if nothing is likely to lure us in again, there's still a potential for danger. So in my opinion, the bigger the group, the better. We can all watch each other's backs. Which brings me to my next point. I know a lot of people have been exploring all the weird places in the city, and eventually I'd like to get accounts from you guys to compile together-- but for now, I wanted to ask if we could make a more concerted effort to explore together, instead of splitting up into our own tiny groups. The main reason being: Jim is constantly watching our movements and reading our posts. He's the only one we have any kind of contact with from Retrospec, and he's shown us in the past couple of months that he likes commenting on what we do and how we act. There's no telling if anything he says might be able to help us down the line, but in order to get him to talk at all, we have to get his attention. And a big group of people poking around for information on Retrospec is a lot more comment-worthy than tiny groups. Obviously there's a risk of exposing ourselves too much to him (though I'd argue we're pretty exposed as it is already). And I can't stop people from exploring on their own. I just wanted to put the idea out there that it might be better to do it together. There's one last thing I want to mention. Yosuke recently suggested that my dog Koromaru should try sniffing out a Retrospec employee by smelling something that was sent by mail. I'm not sure if it'll work, but me and Koromaru are willing to give it a try, so if you get something in the mail from Retrospec and want to let us have a go at it, text me any time of the day or night, I'll come running. Oh, and just to be safe, don't touch the box or wrapping it comes in. Thanks for reading. Hopefully I'll have something more fun to talk about the next time I post here.

[ooc: the open log for this mini expedition will be up on the 18th, for anyone who would like to have their character join! Nothing too exciting other than getting stuck in an infinite loop and attempting to escape said infinite loop will happen...probably ;3 I decided against making a post in the OOC comm for this so if you have any questions, feel free to PM me!]

Comments

[skald]

[Tuuri laughs as she sets the box down, carefully adjusting the flaps so Koromaru could stick his entire head in if he so desired. On the one hand, maybe not the best idea to leave it open for potential chewing, but... it's not like it's her coat, or anything she's particularly attached to, so she figures it's no huge risk. She steps out of the way dramatically, as if Koromaru wouldn't be able to smell the box if she stood too close to it.]

Okay, ready! Let him go!

[complementing]

Ami I don't know if it'd be a good idea for you to come...

[longwei2go]

[ amusingly enough, Yin does actually own a machete. it's tucked in the same bin inside the front door reserved for canes, crutches, and umbrellas. none of which have seen a day of use in quite some time.

once Yin heard the call she opened up the door. she is dressed down even more so than usual but had made herself halfway presentable before Minako's arrival. ] Yo. Sorry about the mess.

[ which isn't all that convincing. Yin is sorry that people have to see it, but not sorry enough to do anything about it. the house is vacuumed and there's no, like, mold or water damage around. it's just... controlled chaos otherwise. ] C'mon in. The tube's right on the coffee table.

[ said coffee table has a couple of empty beer bottles on it, an unused ashtray, and Yin's laptop open to a video playlist about... prosthesis, of all things. she isn't worried about it, taking the time to crouch down to the floor first and reach her palm out for the dog. ] Hey there, little fella. You have — a real interesting style going on there.

[complementing]

[Koromaru is a polite good boy and would never chew on someone else's things! Once Minako nods in agreement, he trots forward and sticks his nose right into the fabric.

After a few good sniffs, he tilts his head back, scenting the air. Nope, just a lot of smelly college kids in here. He blinks up at Minako, who opens the door to the dorm.]

I think he wants to try and look for it. Wanna come with?

[complementing]

It's not the exact same jacket that he had in my visions, but it's close enough. He seems to like it a lot.

[Minako huffs out a quiet laugh as Koromaru yips an affirmative, licking Yin's hand in greeting. She falls quiet when he turns his attention to the tube, though, his ears perked forward as if listening for something. Minako waits a moment. And then makes a sound of understanding.]

He could probably try and sniff out the scent the way it is now, but it might be better to smell the actual item instead of just the tube. Do you want to open it?

[skald]

Ooh, yes, definitely!

[This is so exciting! They're totally going to track Retrospec down! She scoops up the box, careful to hold it through her scarf, and tilts it towards Minako with an explanatory] In case he needs to smell it again when we're on the road!

[That's how tracker dogs work, right? It seems that way in the movies.]

[livingdeadgirl]

what why not
it's just a hike right?

[longwei2go]

[ Yin chuckles, too. ] It's cute.

I was going to wait since I didn't want to contaminate it. The tube probably just smells like the couch by now, anyhow. [ she got up and walked over to pick it up. ] It's a bit heavier than my last one. Too heavy for, like, a poster or anything.

[ Yin peels back the tape and pops off the plastic lid easily enough by holding the tube under her stump. then it's time to hold the open end down toward the floor in reach of Koromaru's nose to get a good whiff of... well, cardboard and fur. ] Here you go.

[complementing]

Oh that's a great idea! Thanks for bringing it along!

[Once Koromaru steps out of the dorm, he sticks his nose up into the air again, turning his head this way and that to try and catch the scent of something. She lets him trot a little ways away from them, but most of her attention is on Tuuri instead of him. She's a fellow Retrospeccer after all, and that means Minako wants to get to know her!]

So, international dorm, huh? Where from, if it's not too rude to ask?

[complementing]

it has the potential to be really dangerous, considering everything that happened last month there when everyone was tiny

[complementing]

[Koromaru leans in to sniff and then jumps back in alarm, starting to bark up a storm. Minako grabs him and starts to try and cuddle him back to his usual calm, but he's not having any of that, squirming in her arms to try and get at the tube.]

I'm sorry, he's normally not like this...whatever is in there is really upsetting him.

[livingdeadgirl]

but you said the voices weren't there anymore
and anyway we are not tiny now!
it's not like we can get eaten by raccoons :\

[longwei2go]

Whoa, no kidding! You hold him and I'll ... see what's in here.

[ looking in the tube isn't getting her anywhere, even with the light overhead. so Yin does something that seems smart at the time; she tips it over and gives it a little shake.

then a harder shake.

the dark loaf of fur just sort of... plops out onto the floor. ]

...the fuck is ... that? [ the loaf twitches. ] Did it just move? [ the loaf. barks. ] Am I having a stroke?

[ lastly, the loaf POOFS into the form of a nonplussed corgi, big eyes staring up at the two humans and the other dog in the room like "lol hey what's up" and not like it was a living creature that just spent several days in a cardboard container.

Yin.exe has stopped working and must be rebooted. ]

[skald]

No problem! [It's not heavy or anything! Though it is awfully hot outside*, and lugging around a thick winter coat in the summer isn't the best way to cool off... whatever, the adventure is worth it.

She just has to adjust her hold on it. That's fine.]

No, not at all! I'm from Finland.

[*if you are from a Nordic country, anyway.]

I've been here for about a year now.

[destiny_key]

i think so yeah!!!
its in a different place here though

in hawaii it was really low in the sky because were so close to the equator
here its higher and you can see it earlier in the night

also i can only find it like half the time anyway
its part of the big dipper though

[complementing]

no they aren't but I have it on good word that SOMETHING is still in there

I can't in good conscience let you come along Ami

[complementing]

[Minako also spends a long moment with her mouth parted in shock. Eventually her jaw starts working to try and say something.]

...and I thought the way Retrospec sent me Korochan was bad. How did he even fit in there?

[Now assured that his furry brethren is freed from the packaging, Koromaru calms down, wagging his tail and barking in greeting.]

[complementing]

Finland! Amazing, that's such a far way to come from. I'm from Japan myself, and I've been here for almost three years now.

[Koromaru tugs on his leash, which is Minako's cue to give him all the slack she can before he starts at a brisk trot in some odd direction.]

It looks like he's picked up something. Just warning you now, when he gets excited he has a tendency to run, so...be prepared for that?

[complementing]

you already know tons more than I do

you're gonna be a great navigator ヾ(≧∇≦*)ゝ

[longwei2go]

What kind of psycho sends a dog?

In the mail?!

[ let's leave out "how is this physically possible" because colors are fucked up and horses are gone and this is far from the strangest thing to happen to Yin the past few months, but it's just. weird. it makes her kinda angry.

that's something the pup seems to pick up on. after giving Minako and Koromaru a once-over to confirm that they're not aggressive, he takes a few steps and plants a paw atop Yin's bare foot.

Yin crouches and very cautious reaches out to pet him between his ears, which he seems to like. ] At least it's friendly.

[frostythehitman]

What, no sneaking in?

[ He can't help but pull a wry grin. But no, that's probably not a good idea, based on previous experience. ]

Fine, perimeter it is, just keep an eye out for any booby traps. Electrified fences or something. I wouldn't put it past them.

[complementing]

Whoever packages things at Retrospec.

[She peers down at the dog, beaming at the sight of him being cute.]

Of the three times I know of people getting animals in the mail, they all seemed friendly. [God help the poor soul who gets some feral animal in the mail from Retrospec instead.] So Retrospec is that considerate, at least. Do you know what his name is?

[complementing]

Will do!

[The puppy leads them around towards the front of the building without any electrified fence incidents. In fact, even with how quiet the building is, it somehow seems more so than usual. Weird, but unsurprising, since it's Retrospec. Just as they're about to turn the corner, he barks suddenly, tugging on the leash again and dragging Minako forward.]

Whoa, what now?!

[A box is sitting in front of the locked doors. Koromaru looks very eager to get at it.]

[livingdeadgirl]

[dang it... Ami does kind of understand her concern, but at the same time it's not faaaair.]

is it because I'm a kid?

[longwei2go]

It's not right. I mean, shit, I left it here for days. [ unintentional animal abuse is still just that. Yin meanders with her hand, scritching the tuft of the pup's neck and checking around the collar from what she can see. ]

No idea.

How about it, fella. You got a name tag? [ sure enough, a metallic sound catches her attention and it takes just a moment more to bend forward and read something etched into a bone-shaped label. ] "Zwei", huh? That's French right?

[ swing and a miss, and a terrible accent to boot. ]