Video-Ride em rat boys.

[deadmanbusiness]

[The camera is at floor level, not exactly showing much right away until one of the little hippos trundles past. While this is "normal" for a given value of normal at this place, or at least for the day, what this hippo has that others don't is zombie rat on its back. The hippo is confused a to what it's got on its back, but the rat somehow manages to look pleased with itself. If you can tell pleased with a rat that's missing part of its jaw and ear and has glowing red eyes. A few times the hippo shakes itself trying to dislodge its rider but to no avail.

It's got a rat on its back.

Then the camera moves and Theo's face appears. He looks amused.]


I woke up to this. I kind of feel sorry for the little guys but every time I take Jasper off of one it gets onto another. As it doesn't seem to be harming them...

[He shrugs.]

I've heard of plagues of rats before, but not hippos. At least these guys don't seem to mind me.

Comments

[riceballfruit]

They are really cute, aren't they?

I've never seen hippos this size, though. They always look much bigger in pictures!

But, um, is your rat okay? It looks like it was injured.... [Yes, she's sympathizing, highly, with the rat.]

[deadmanbusiness]

I've never seen hippos this small either. I've seen some in the zoo before.

[The rat question takes him a moment to realize what she's talking about. He checks on Jasper and it seems to be all right. Then he realizes oh... right.]

Jasper? Its fine. It's just undead.

[That's cute though! It's better than screaming in terror.]

[riceballfruit]

[Well, she did live with someone that turned into a rat. It helps.]

Undead? Like a zombie?! [Now, though, she looks panicked.]

[deadmanbusiness]

Yes. It is a zombie.

It's all right. It's not going to hurt anyone. Jasper is perfectly tame.

[Please don't panic.]

[riceballfruit]

Oh.... He's not like those zombies from a while back?

[deadmanbusiness]

No. No. I made it myself. It won't bite anyone unless I tell it to.

[riceballfruit]

How did you make something like that?

Do you know magic?!

[deadmanbusiness]

I'm a necromancer.

[He knows magic.]

[riceballfruit]

[She starts to look absolutely happy! Then...confused.]

I'm sorry. What is that? I don't know what a necromancer is.

[deadmanbusiness]

[Oh. Right. Right.]

I can create and control most types of undead. Using magic. It's a specific branch of magic.

[He feels weird having to add in the qualifier 'most'. It never happened before!]

[riceballfruit]

Oh, so you don't use other forms of magic? Just that type?

[deadmanbusiness]

I'm afraid so. It's the only thing I know how to do.

[riceballfruit]

Oh....

That's still amazing, though! But I was looking for someone that knew other types of magic.

[deadmanbusiness]

What kind of magic? I know lots about magic, maybe I can help a little.

[riceballfruit]

I don't know what specific magic was used, just that it was a curse.

[deadmanbusiness]

One of the curses from the City?

[riceballfruit]

No. It's a curse from outside of the City.

[deadmanbusiness]

I know a little bit about curses.

[riceballfruit]

How much? Like...how to curse people to turn into animals?

[deadmanbusiness]

I know the theory.

My fiancee's brother threatened to do that to me if I didn't propose to her.

It's highly unethical and a high level spell from where I'm from.

[riceballfruit]

[So then he probably can't perform it.]

I'm sorry if I've wasted your time. [She gives him a bright smile. It'll be all right. There are many people here. Someone must know!] But thank you for answering my questions. I really do appreciate it.

[deadmanbusiness]

[It'd be like asking him to do something in bio-engineering. No. He couldn't.]

It wasn't a waste of my time, I promise. Right now I'm just watching the hippos.

I'm sorry I couldn't have been more help.

[riceballfruit]

You were plenty of help, Mister....

Ah, I think I was rude again and forgot to ask your name. I highly apologize.

My name is Tohru Honda, and it was still a pleasure to meet you, regardless.

[deadmanbusiness]

Theodred Sammeth. But people generally call me Theo.

It's nice to meet you as well. Perhaps I can be more helpful in the future.

[riceballfruit]

Mister Theo, then. I hope you are well and take care until we meet again.