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Post by Leroy on Jun 8, 2010 4:29:54 GMT -5
"Well, here we are," Leroy said as he stepped off of the city bus. In front of him were a couple of ticket booths, and behind them were several large tents that housed various circus attractions. They were at The Big Top, Mariposa's local circus. And today was sure to be an interesting visit.
"So do you want to head straight for the bird show, or did you want to make any stops along the way?" Leroy paid for the tickets while he waited for a response. Emily wanted to get some kind of bird morph, and what better place to do that than at a bird show?
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emilyorion
Experienced
Animorph of Mariposa
Posts: 74
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Post by emilyorion on Jun 20, 2010 19:57:13 GMT -5
((*sneaks in somewhat sheepishly*))
Emily looked around wide eyed, her senses overwhelmed by the noise and colors. She closed her eyes trying to regain her balance. Wow. She focused on Leroy and started to grin. "Let's find the elephants!"
It was more than likely going to be a useless morph... but she couldn't resist. It would be awesome! She felt like a cat on catnip as the senses overwhelmed her and she started looking around everywhere. What to get, what to get. It was like going shopping...no... it was more fun!
She froze and looked back at Leroy, eyes wide and shining. "Just think, we can have natural animal clothes... and not have to worry about an animal being killed for it!!" She knew it was corny, but the energy of the circus had her so buzzed it was like she had eaten a whole lot of sugar.
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Post by Leroy on Jun 23, 2010 4:49:13 GMT -5
"An elephant?" Leroy asked. "I thought we were looking for a bird..." Not that Leroy could blame Emily for considering acquiring an elephant morph. He had done the same thing himself during his first visit to this circus. Even now he spotted the elephant he had payed ten dollars to have his picture taken with. If Emily decided to stray from her bird goal, she wouldn't be hearing any complaints from Leroy.
"Well, whatever, um... outfit, you decide to get while we are here, let me know. I don't want to be surprised by any, um, impulse purchases." Leroy was trying to mask what he was saying in in case someone happened to be listening in on their conversation. He knew it wasn't very likely, but he didn't want to take any chances. Hopefully Emily would figure out that he was really talking about acquiring morphs.
Leroy followed Emily as he observed the hustle and bustle of the busy circus.
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emilyorion
Experienced
Animorph of Mariposa
Posts: 74
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Post by emilyorion on Jun 23, 2010 9:06:54 GMT -5
Emily froze upon hearing Leroy's way of phrasing what they were doing and started laughing. Not just any laugh, but the full belly laugh of someone who had heard something incredibly funny. She leaned close and whispered in Leroy's ear, "You're trying to hide one thing by acting like my boyfriend/husband?"
She pulled back, grinning, her eyes still twinkling with humor. After all, that's what it sounded like. Outfits? Not wanting to be surprised by impulse purchases? She cracked up laughing again as she let her gaze drift over the animals. Elephants, zebras, lions, tigers, so many animals. Though she would rather have a white tiger than a normal one... not to be "racist".
Poor Leroy, she wondered how he was going to react to that.
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Post by Leroy on Jun 27, 2010 1:23:34 GMT -5
Leroy frowned at Emily's initial response, but he was soon smiling again as he realized just how ridiculous he had sounded. "Okay, so maybe that was a silly thing to ask," he admitted. "Especially at a circus."
Seriously, who buys outfits at a circus anyway? Clowns? Leroy asked himself.
"But still, since I already asked, do you have your eye on anything in particular?" Leroy looked around at everything in view. "'Cause if there is something a circus lacks, variety isn't it."
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emilyorion
Experienced
Animorph of Mariposa
Posts: 74
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Post by emilyorion on Jun 28, 2010 16:56:01 GMT -5
"Do they... do they have white tigers?" she asked, looking around, back to being in awe of the chaos. She toyed with a lock of her hair as she observed the number off animals. In a way, suit was perfect for the options. The animals WERE caged almost like clothes on hangers. How could they stand it? She felt sorry for them.
She reached down to pet Shadow, but then remembered she had sent him back to be with Sky Song... and she moved closer to Leroy almost instinctively. She had never gone anywhere without without Shadow before, and felt very vulnerable. Not afraid of the animals, but of the people... though she was sure there was no reason to be.
"And maybe a giraffe."
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Post by Leroy on Jul 1, 2010 5:54:23 GMT -5
"Well," Leroy started to say as Emily scooted closer to him, much to his surprise. "I don't know if they have giraffes here, they might, but I'm pretty sure they have tigers. Both the white and the orange varieties. Some other types of big cats too. Lions and black panthers spring to mind."
"However, there is somewhat of a problem," Leroy continued. "They have tigers here at the circus, but you still need to touch one in order to acquire its DNA." Leroy paused for a moment to make sure Emily had a chance to absorb that information reminder.
"So... I'm not sure how we can do that. I doubt the staff here just lets people walk right up to the big cats and touch them. We will definitely need some sort of plan." Leroy looked to Emily to see if she had any ideas. Leroy had few of his own, but none yet that he thought were very doable.
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emilyorion
Experienced
Animorph of Mariposa
Posts: 74
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Post by emilyorion on Jul 1, 2010 8:54:56 GMT -5
Emily frowned slightly at the reminder, her defenses starting to rise. Did he think her some kind of fool? Of course she knew she had to touch the animal. She quickly calmed herself, after all... he was too nice of a guy to mean it in any way but the best. But how to get near any creature of the dangerous variety. If she remembered correctly they had a large snake population as well.
Feeding the animals was certainly not an option, it said on many bright signs that it was unadvised. So then how. She toyed with a lock of her hair ponderously as she scanned the crowd. There was always chaos at some other area that would give time, not much and they would have to move fast... but it was the only thing she could come up with. Trouble was it would have to be something big.
On the other hand... there was the start of the circus.
"I have two ideas, one very... how you say... difficult to carry through. The other is merely speculation in hopes of simplicity. They do have the performance part right? Do the trainers not leave the sides of the cages for a time, however short?"
Even as she said this, she thought of another plan. It didn't matter who you were, but attention from another person, moreso if it's an attractive person of the gender in which they were interested, or even could get into a heated argument with... that would serve as a great distraction. Just the how would be hard to manage.
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Post by Leroy on Jul 1, 2010 14:46:44 GMT -5
"I prefer simple plans," Leroy stated matter-of-factly. "But even more so, I prefer a plan that will work. Lets hear the one you think is most likely to work."
Then Leroy leaned in close and whispered into Emily's ear, making sure she would still be able to hear him over the crowds. "I don't know what you have up your sleeve, but if it helps your planning, the morphs I have are dog, duck, hornbill, elephant, gorilla, a weevil, and a donkey. Oh, and an orca, but I doubt that one would be helpful here. I would also be willing to acquire something new if it would help."
Leroy was starting to get nervous, but in a good way. Like the nervousness someone felt when they were reaching the top of a roller coaster, about to go over the edge. He and Emily were about to do something exciting and Leroy's sense of adventure was becoming activated.
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emilyorion
Experienced
Animorph of Mariposa
Posts: 74
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Post by emilyorion on Jul 3, 2010 9:45:11 GMT -5
Emily tensed slightly as her cheeks turned red as Leroy came close. She wasn't used to such close human contact with anyone but her parents, and even they... as time went on... became distant as she became closer with animals.
She tried to focus on the animals that he had, and what animals she wanted. What animal did she want. d**n she wished she had picked up a squirrel. Dangerous as it was, it was the easiest to sneak in, the easiest to go un-noticed. She froze, this time as an idea passed through her mind. This time it was her turn.
She leaned close to Leroy's ear and whispered, "How about we go shopping, and after we leave, I'll pick up a squirrel. Then tonight we can sneak back in. It's dangerous but the best I have for the animals I want."
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Post by Leroy on Jul 6, 2010 19:08:26 GMT -5
Leroy watched nonchalantly as a thought seemed to come to Emily. Then she told him her plan about getting a squirrel morph and sneaking in at night. That plan certainly had its dangers, but not really any more dangers than a different plan. And it seemed like the plan that would have the smallest likelihood of the two of them getting caught.
"It sounds like you have thought of a workable plan for us to use," Leroy finally replied. "I can't see any major holes in it. Not that I am an expert or anything..." Leroy gave Emily a wide grin.
"So what kind of shopping did you have in mind?" If they weren't going to sneak in until later, Leroy figured they might as well enjoy their time at the circus. Especially since their tickets were already paid for.
(OOC: Feel free to do a time-skip if you would like to)
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emilyorion
Experienced
Animorph of Mariposa
Posts: 74
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Post by emilyorion on Jul 7, 2010 9:44:14 GMT -5
((*LOL* sad case... I'm gonna have to google a circus... the only things I know about circuses are elephants.... and what I learned from Dumbo lol, so time skip it is!))
Emily smiled as she held the peanuts in her hand, squirrels seeming to climb all over her with no fear. Again, no Shadow. But maybe it was for the best. She had become too dependent on him. She observed all the squirrels with interest. Which squirrel to choose. Then she spotted one, still on the tree, eyes alert. There was no tummy trust there. She liked the squirrel's spirit.
She stepped forward, scattering the nuts on the ground for the squirrels, keeping one as a peace gift. She walked to the tree and lifted the remaining nut to the squirrel. It gave her a "just how dumb do you think I am?" She nodded respectfully and understanding.
"I know you can hear me. Do not be afraid, I have a favor to ask. I need to take some DNA, it's painless." She continued to hold the nut up as the squirrel observed her. As the other squirrels finished the other nuts and started to come after the last, the squirrel made a quick decision and scrambled down, jumping into her hand as if to say "ok ok deal." As the squirrel sat in her hand, they locked eyes and stared, absorbing the dna from the squirrel. She felt the completion and smiled at the squirrel, holding her hand close to the tree.
"Thankyou." The squirrel scrambled up at the tree to a branch and looked back at her, nodding. It seemed the squirrel had bonded with her through the dna absorbtion. The squirrel bounded back to her, landing lightly on her shoulder, wrapping a tail around her neck for balance. Looked like she had made a new friend. That was good.
"Oh, no offense Leroy," she said automatically, then blushed. She had forgotten he didn't hear the first part of her thought process. Awkward...
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Post by Leroy on Jul 8, 2010 22:29:07 GMT -5
"None taken," Leroy replied. He had already guessed that she probably hadn't been talking to him. And even if it was him that she was talking to, Leroy wasn't about to answer her ' Just how dumb do you think I am,' question. That just wasn't a good idea. Besides, while Emily was busy befriending squirrels, Leroy was busy making a new 'friend' of his own. He was leaning against a tree not far from where Emily was coaxing the squirrels, when he looked sideways at the tree bark and noticed a bulge. Upon closer inspection, he realized that the bulge was actually a frog, camouflaged to look like the bark. After a moment of consideration, Leroy figured a new morph wouldn't hurt, and so he snatched up the frog from the side of the tree and acquired it just as Emily had done with the squirrel. Leroy tried to set it back onto the tree, but it jumped to the ground and disappeared into some weeds. By that time Emily seemed to be done with the squirrels, so he didn't even bother trying to look for it. "So, are you all set? Are we ready to find out what exactly the circus has in store for you?" Leroy smiled with an excited expression on his face. He couldn't wait to see how this night would turn out.
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emilyorion
Experienced
Animorph of Mariposa
Posts: 74
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Post by emilyorion on Jul 8, 2010 23:19:42 GMT -5
Emily flashed Leroy a warm smile, her eyes twinkling with good nature. The misery she had never known dwelled deep inside her was melting away as she made more friends, more connections. Who would have thought.
She looked at Leroy shyly. "Yes. I'm ready. And Leroy... thankyou. Not just for taking me to the circus... but for being my first real friend of the human variety." She moved quickly away, the squirrel perched on her shoulder. She wasn't tall, but she was quick and light on her feet. She needed to check on Shadow and Sky Song.
Suddenly she broke into a run, the run becoming somewhat sporadic as her form began to shift. She transformed into her mare, the squirrel now clinging to her mane as she galloped across the park. She didn't think of the consequences. She spotted the barn and headed in, shifting back into human form and running into the stall where Sky Song and Shadow awaited.
She fell to her knees, clinging to Shadow for dear life, tears pouring down her face. The loneliness of her years caught up in those tears, flowing freely. Sky Song lowered her head to Emily's shoulder, and the squirrel rested it's head in her neck as did Shadow.
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Post by Leroy on Jul 13, 2010 5:04:11 GMT -5
Leroy was about to reply to Emily, but then she started to move away. Which was probably just as well, seeing as how he wasn't sure how to respond to her anyway. What were you supposed to say when someone pretty much told you that you were their only friend? Well, their only human friend that wasn't an immediate relative. It was complicated.
When he noticed that Emily had started morphing, Leroy figured he had better follow her. He looked around quickly to make sure nobody had seen her, and luckily it seemed nobody had. Then Leroy ducked into some shrubs and morphed into his duck form.
By the time the last of his changes took place and Leroy was airborne, Emily was already far away. But it didn't take long to catch up. He flew in through an open-air window into the hay loft and landed gracelessly onto a hay bale.
Then, after giving Emily a moment or two to be alone with Skysong and Shadow, and apparently a squirrel, he used thought speech to speak to her. <<Ahem. I don't mean to ruin the moment, but you gotta be a little more careful about your morphing. If someone had seen you, there could have been some... bad, consequences.>>
And that was putting it lightly.
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