o o 3 . v i d e o

[makingastatement]

I can accept a lot from this place: people coming and going, weird urges, at least weird to most of us, or some jokers trying to imitate the dead to catch us off-guard--

[ There's...bleating off screen, followed by a female voice. ]

Don't act like you know what you're talking about. You're just as new as me.

--but being paired up with a farm animal? Even a talking one...that just ain't responsible.

[ The goat's eyes twinkle as she raises her head into the camera, chewing on a pair of socks pleasantly. There appears to be something of a scuffle for the limited camera space before the video feed finally switches off. ]

(Notes: Al's got the dæmon curse this weekend. Journal or action responses are all welcome! Anyone that runs into Sofonisba (Yes, I named her. Ahem.) at the bar or on the streets will find out pretty quickly that she is very curious and, much like her human counterpart, is not afraid to go after what she wants. This can be anything from headbutting into you if you're in her way to going after your food and/or pants.)

Comments

[makingastatement]

[ Meanwhile the bartender, who has gotten quite tired of the comments and questions about why there's a goat behind the counter, is busying himself with work. ]

I was told that it wasn't a good idea to be behind the bar.

[ She sounds indignant about being banished. Quietly she sniffs at the ground by Theo's feet before something else catches her eye. ]

Your rat looks like he's seen better days.

[deadmanbusiness]

[Oh. It - she- can talk. Oddly, Theo takes this in fairly good stride. Talking unicorns, teleporting cats, what's a goat that can talk, really? He's also not going to connect her belonging to Al because of this.]

No, it probably wouldn't. You'd likely accidentally knock things over and cause a mess. What's your name?

Jasper's seen much better days, but it's undead.

[makingastatement]

Sofonisba.

[ She bucks her head as a warning.

I'm not clumsy, if that's what you're implying.

[The movement catches Al's eye and he leans over the bar to speak to Theo. ]

Hey. Is she bothering you?

[deadmanbusiness]

[Again, Theo doesn't even blink.]

Nice to meet you Sofonisba. And I didn't mean to imply that at all, I just know that the space behind the bar is rather tight.

[He shakes his head.]

Nah, she's fine. How are you?

[makingastatement]

Peachy. I've got a tag-along.

[ ...of course, he realizes that he's talking to the guy who has some rough-looking rats as spotters. ]

And she isn't exactly portable.

[ Meanwhile, Sophonisba has ceased circling Theo and resorted to bumping her head into the back of his legs to get his attention once again. ]

What's your name, boy?

[deadmanbusiness]

It could be worse. At least she's intelligent.

[He grins and then grunts a bit when he gets banged from behind.]

I'm Theodred. Most people call me Theo.

[makingastatement]

[ He can't help but laugh. Finally she seems to be nagging on someone else. ]

Don't encourage her.

Hm. You have very strong legs for a human.

[deadmanbusiness]

You missed the excitement last weekend with the kittens. Horrible little goober eating things without realizing what he should and shouldn't eat. At least she knows what it is appropriate to eat.

[Mayhem the storm of the endless stomachness.]

I've had practice.

[makingastatement]

Kittens as in regular cats? That much trouble?

[ This place never fails to throw someone a loop. ]

A gal brought over some food. I think that's the only thing saving your pant legs at this point.

[deadmanbusiness]

They're from my world. This particular litter can teleport and one of them can eat anything.

[Don't worry. It happens.]

[To the goat he says]

I've already had one pair of pants eaten this week, I'd rather not have two, please.

[makingastatement]

[ She bobs her head rather agreeably. ]

Since you asked so nicely, I'll leave them be. I'm not a mindless eating machine like some people believe...although they do smell delicious, Theo.

[ Meanwhile, this guy is still stuck on the kittens. ]

Tele-what?

[deadmanbusiness]

Thank you.

[To poor Al he continues with.]

Teleport. The ability to move from one place to another instantaneously without passing through the space in between. Which is how you would end up with a kitten inside a box even though the box wasn't opened for the kitten to get into.

[makingastatement]

Jesus.

[ Just when you think you've heard it all. ]

Where the hell are you from, the moon?

[deadmanbusiness]

Er. No. I'm currently living just outside of DC.

[makingastatement]

Close enough.

[deadmanbusiness]

[Okay. That's funny and he laughs.]

It seems like it sometimes.

[makingastatement]

I'm gonna guess you're not in politics. What'd you do there?

[deadmanbusiness]

It's against the law for me to be in politics.

And I work as part of troubleshooting team that governments call upon when there's stuff they can't or won't handle. Big magical problems.

As for why outside of DC lots of big government institutions there. Saves us gas.

[makingastatement]

What do you mean by magical?

[ Big problems are one thing. Magic is another. ]

[deadmanbusiness]

[Theo picks up a cardboard coaster and starts to twirl it idly in his hands.]

Well, right before I showed up we'd just managed to stop a series of ritual murders that were designed to re-empower a god. He was using his movie star fan base to find victims to kill people for him.

[makingastatement]

[ Shit. There's still a lot he doesn't understand and that is concerning to say the least. ]

A real god or a god like the stronzos around here?

[deadmanbusiness]

Er. Well, where I'm from a real god. I don't know if you'd call him a real god here... but back home he's considered a real god.

[Theo's world is weird. That never helps matters.]

[makingastatement]

I didn't know DC was that complicated.

[ He frowns. ]

You want something to drink?

[deadmanbusiness]

It's the entire world really.

That was just our most recent case.

[He's going to neglect to mention that the god in question is his older brother...]

Sure.

[makingastatement]

Never a dull day at least.

[ Brother trouble he can understand, maybe not the god part but... ]

What'll it be?