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 Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2023 6:43 pm
Quote: Prompt 4 (Snowbunnies): Winter seems to bring out the cutest of all rodents; this isn’t the first time that small, white rabbits have infested Destiny City. They’re small, rarely larger than a guinea pig, and have large eyes and wiggling noses. They are always pure white and seem to show up whenever there’s snow. They aren't menacing or evil, they're just everywhere. They seem strangely domesticated; they are sweet, curious, and friendly creatures that will eat anything you give them. They always seem cold to the touch, and when they shake, little snowflakes sprinkle off of them. While they seem to be social creatures who seem to appreciate anything warm and will cuddle up to steal body heat, they are too skittish and fast to be kept for pets. They can show up just about anywhere, either alone or--often--in pairs. They tend to wander off on their own without any trouble, but if you surprise them or try to catch or hurt them, they may bite. Their little teeth are enough to break skin, but after one bite they run away. The bite itself isn’t bad, but the effects are a bit unpleasant: for roughly two days after the bite, the injury is cold and the victim will feel random, cold, shooting pains. Their core body temperature will drop and they will often be sent into random fits of shivering. No medicine seems to help, and no amount of blankets or hot baths can soothe the chill. You're just going to have to deal with it and hope it gets better… Most experiences with the bunnies are perfectly pleasant, you just have to worry about them burrowing. There are holes peppering Destiny City, and with the fresh fallen snow it can be impossible to tell where they are hiding. The holes range from small holes to several feet deep, so can be a minor inconvenience to a potential hazard. On the bright side, sometimes you wind up covered in bunnies looking for warmth from their sudden guest. On the other hand, there are a rising number of trips to the hospital for twists and sprains. The bunnies always leave with the snow, so best to enjoy them--or avoid them--for as long as you can.
Rather than walking to the back, and he was not going to power up, Alexandre drove himself to the park and after parking in one of the lots he headed off for a short walk to where he knew the trails and benches where he could sit down and let the bunnies snuggle up while they ate. They were cute and if it were possible he’d try and keep one as a pet, though he knew it didn’t seem like it was possible, they were known to take off before you could capture them and he wasn’t about to risk being bitten by one of them either.
Finding a nice bench to seat himself on, and brushing off the snow, Alexandre sat himself down and sure enough the bunnies turned up and he started handing out the little carrots he had filling his coat pockets. He did wonder what sort of magic brought these little creatures to the city, they were cute, could they have existed on another planet at some point? It was a rather interesting idea really; though he doubted it. Gloves up fingers were nice and warm as he handed out the little carrots and watched the bunnies nibble away, a few seeking his affection, he wasn’t even one decided to hop into his lap for some warmth to go with the food.
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Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2023 6:56 pm
It was a cold night but at least it wasn’t as windy so his walk home from the shop wasn’t as bad as it could be. With his scarf pulled up over his nose and his winter hat pulled down to his eyes, it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. It just wasn’t as easy to see as he wandered through the snow and past the parks. Little rabbits were hopping around his feet as he went, watching them and trying to dodge them as best as he could. They looked cute but he was surprised how close they were getting to him as he walked.
Out of the corner of his eye, he thought he saw someone feeding them in the park but he didn’t get much more than a quick glance before he stepped into a hole in the ground and went tumbling into the snow. He pulled his hand back from the ground where he tried to break his fall and hissed as he felt the ice on his scratched-up hand. “Little beasties… damn this city.”
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Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2023 6:57 pm
He’d heard some sort of sound, not too far off, and twisting round to look he saw someone on the ground and in a snow drift of sorts. Standing up, little bunny in his arms, he headed over while the little one in his arms nibbled away on a carrot stick. His approach was slow, he had a little hoard of bunnies following about his feet. The person was just outside the park so it wasn’t all that hard to reach them, though he did need to step outside the park to get around the gates.
Bending he stared down at them, snow sprinkling his hair and clinging to his eye lashes here and there. “The rabbits tripped you up?” He asked while the one he’d been feeding went into a coat pocket along with the carrot stick, he knew he would find it gone at some point, but for now he stood up and offered a gloved hand. “Let me help you up. T hey are cute but a bit of a menace as well. Once winter passes they’ll vanish as well.” So they were only around to harass people, and look cute, for a short period of time.
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Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2023 6:58 pm
He heard someone walking up as he shifted to rub at his ankle, it hurt but with how cold it was he couldn’t tell if he’d done more than roll it. It was a voice he recognized so he pulled his hat off to get a better look. “Oh, Alexandre.” Grabbing their hand with his uninjured one, he accepted their help to try and get up. “I’ve never seen rabbits get so close before, usually they stay far away from people.” He saw a few more of them edging closer as he tried to get up.
“Oh… that’s not good.” Leaning on them as he got up, it hurt to put weight on his ankle. Pulling his pantleg up it looked like it was starting to swell up a bit. “s**t.” Again they’d been around to help him out, he really was starting to wonder if they were a guardian angel of sorts. “I think I need to hobble to a bench and take a better look.” Tucking his hat into his coat pocket, he looked around the park and at the rabbits. There were so many of them and he saw a few with carrots in their mouth.
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Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2023 6:59 pm
“These rabbits like people…just not enough to go home with anyone. They are friendly, always white, and a bit chilly to touch. Just don’t get bitten by them.” Which was rather hard to do, getting them upset enough to bite you. “Remember the tapestry in your shop and how I said things happen in this city?” He questioned while shifting in order to support the other's weight, which was not as easy since the other was a lot taller than he was. If he were to risk it and power up he’d be fine, he could easily handle the weight, but it wasn’t so easy right now. He did manage it though as he wrapped an arm about the other.
“I drove here so I could take you home….if you want.” It would make it easier for the other, though it did mean his time with the cute little bunnies would be over for the night. He’d just come back when he could to see them again, when the wind wasn’t blowing through the city. “You can look at it there if you want, unless you really want to remain out here in the cold to look at it?” Already he was wondering if he should, or could, even call Lorcan to take a look at it…as a favor to him.
Biting his bottom lip as he considered it, wondered just what his cousin might take from him turning up at his doorstep with a stranger needing help. “Car or bench, either is fine with me. He was just here to help the other, good luck for Rene it seemed.”
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Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2023 7:01 pm
Frowning a bit at the mention of going to his place, he really didn’t want them to see the shithole he lived in. It wasn’t anything like he’d wanted but it was the only thing he’d been able to get before his paperwork had been sorted by Alexandre. “Just back to my shop, I can sleep there tonight.” He’d figure it out from there and it would be easier than trying to explain his shitty apartment.
“I guess these aren’t as bad as fae or bears but still…” He cringed as his foot hit the ground and weight was put on his ankle. “Were you feeding them?” Watching as they looked a little put out at the fact they’d have to leave the park. “I can wait a bit, sit, and see if it feels better after a bit of cold helping.” He really didn’t have anything planned other than spending the night into the holiday alone. It was his first holiday without family, and even if he didn’t like the whole situation, he still felt alone without anyone checking in on him.
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Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2023 7:01 pm
“You’re certain?” He questioned the other while wondering if he was choosing to go to the shop because it was closer, because whatever injury he had was that bad. “I was feeding them but I don’t think they’ll mind me leaving, plenty of people are surely feeding them.” They were cute enough that they’d likely gained a following of people wanting the attention, and affection, from the bunnies. The one in his pocket he pulled out and gently set down on the ground, taking a moment to bend down in order to do this, before he was standing back up at the others side.
“Alright, I can bring you to my car and drive you to the shop.” he’d help him inside as well, not that he said as much at the moment, he didn’t mind helping the other seeing as he seemed hurt and weight on his leg was definitely causing him pain. “Come on.” Shifting and getting as comfortable as he could with the others weight he moved to head them back into the park and down the path to where his car was parked in the lot. It was going to be a long walk like this, really long, and slow but he’d done worse and he knew that. That thought alone kept him going, that and sheer stubbornness.
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Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2023 7:02 pm
“Yeah, going downstairs is going to be easier than going upstairs. Though it’s pretty icy so I’ll have to be careful.” Balancing on one leg for a moment as they bent down and freed one of the things from their pocket. “They are rather cute even if they leave holes to trip in behind. Are they a one-time thing like the fae or do they come back each year? I might want to try painting a few of them if they are here next winter.” Hinting a bit that he was going to stick around as he leaned back on them after they stood back up.
It was slow going to their car as he hobbled along without putting weight on his leg. The cold didn’t help either since he felt stiffer trying to move along. He was a bit surprised they could help to be honest, given how easily he picked them up here and there. “Thanks, by the way, for the save again. I’ll have to reward you once I figure out if I broke my ankle or not.”
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Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2023 7:13 pm
"They come back winter after winter...they might have skipped once though." He couldn't remember, so much happened each winter it wasn't easy to keep up with. Alexandre was of themind that you needed a note book to up with every holiday season and what happened and than compare thigns, see what seemed the most likely to happen the next yeah or see if there were patterns. "Someone will fill in the holes once winter passes, or they fill themselves in, but these bunnies are mostly harmless. If they bite you they seem to inflict a feeling of cold on a person, some have gone to the hospital for it even, nothing seems ot help it's just something you need to push through." It was why so many people were nice to the tiny creatures, himself included, it also helped that they were damn cute. "Most people just suffer and write about it online and complaine." Shrugging as he spoke, again with how normal these sorts of mysterious and magical things were. Poor Rene though had no idea about these sorts of thigns and had moved here during this time of year.
"I'm sure they'll be back next year, they are common place." Aside from the year he was certain they didn't turn up, he just couldn't remember which year that had been. "Luck just had me here at the time you needed help." It wasn't so easy for him to handle someone so much taller, who also weighted so much more than himself, but he was managing as best he could. it meant going slower which put more strain on him but he wasn't going to exaactly give in. Thankfully the bunnies seemed to understand and weren't under his feet, he did not need to be tripped or hurt one of the bunnies either. The path was solid and no holes under it, since it was paved, so without the risk of stepping into a divet the blond felt confident in making it to the parking lot.
When they did arrive he was sweating, his bangs a bit damp, and he was flush in the cheeks. Arriving at the suv he unlocked it and opened the passanger door for the other before taking off his coat and gloves, he really was too warm, and taking a deep breath of the cold air he helped Rene into the car.
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Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2023 7:44 pm
"I'll have to watch the ground a bit more carefully in winter just in case." He felt a bit bad by the time they got to Alexandre's car. The small blond looked like they'd run a mile covered in sandbags. He hopped up into the passenger seat while babying his ankle, making sure he didn't bang it on anything as he moved the seat back a bit to make room for his legs. It felt like more than luck though that the other kept happening to show up when things happened. Maybe they were his good luck charm? Either way, he liked seeing them around.
"Maybe next year you can show me more of them, I'll try not to break something." He teased a bit as he watched them strip layers down to cool off. "You didn't have to help if you were going to be so worn out by it, I could have just hopped along, I've broken things a few times back home without help."
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Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2023 8:14 pm
"If you want to paint them than yes, I can certainly show you them next year. I think they look best against the snow with some greenery." Some color here and there so it wasn't an all white painting, that would be boring, but to add in some dark greens and browns worked nicely. The bunnies deserved to be the star of a painting.
Rolling his eyes as he came around and got into the drivers side, pushing his key into the ignition and starting the car he pulled out of the parking spot as he turned on the heat. "You're right, I didn't have to help but I wanted to. It was a choice I made and trust me, I've been through worse. The height doesn't make it easy but I can manage." He was small, petite, and didn't look it but he was rather strong. He just wasn't as strong as others, or as tall, so it did make some things rather difficult for him.
"I will say, you picked the worst time to move to this city. The spring isn't like this and the summer isn't bad. The fall and winter are filled with these sorts of things." With little itme between them to recover from one set of magical problems before being dragged into the next set of issues. It would have been nice if the magic running this city would give them more of a break but he supposed they got that in the spring and the summer even.
Pulling oout of the park he headed towards the others shop, being mindful of the snow coming down and people being idiots on the road. He didn't trsut them to drive when the snow started to fall, or during nasty storms in general,. they all seemed to forget how to drive.
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Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2023 8:27 pm
"Sounds good then, I'll hold you to that." Leaning into the seat as he chanced another glance at his ankle, it still looked swollen beneath his sock and pant leg. It had been a rough winter, not one he'd expected but to be honest it wasn't like there were any warning signs when he'd gotten off the plane at the airport.
"I mean, I didn't really plan what happened too much. At least I got here before the snow started falling. Though I must have missed the fall trouble it seems like, other than being carless." He'd also run into a few crazy one-nighters but that wasn't exclusive to this city so he hadn't worried about it much.
Watching the buildings as they passed, he saw that all the other shops were closed up for the holiday. He wasn't officially open tomorrow but with nothing to do he had intended to use the time to sort the store a bit more, it seemed he might have to scramble to the ER in the morning once he got a better look at what had happened. He was surprised at all the cars out though, normally people kept inside when the weather was bad. It took some getting used to but to be honest people out in all sorts of weather benefitted him as a store owner.
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Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2023 9:05 pm
""You must have, there is a small lul in the insanity of the city. November isn't too bad but once December hits it returns with a winter twist to it." Because the two seasons brought vastly different types of magical insanity...but it was still magical chaos which everyone suffered, powered or not. It didn't matter if someone was a pure civilian they still had to suffer it all.
"That's fine, you can hold me to that if you want. I might not mind painting the bunnies myself." They would make a lovely painting and perhaps he could use it for a christmas card, personalized of course, for the next year. He knew that was far thinking but he really did try and think ahead on such things. He'd ordered, from various sites online, custom wrapping paper as wel las santa sacks that had peopels names on them. He had put a lot into his gift giving this year when it came to his family, he wanted to be unique and stand out, and everything had already been sent to his grandmothers and was under the massive tree she had. With so many people in his family it was not easy to stand out and to do things which grabbed attention, because there were so many people trying for similar, but he was hoping somethign would standout or be different this year. He could hope.
"If your planning to be here for next winter than you should be prepared for the fall. Summer is fairly innocent but fall can be tricks and treats...it goes both ways. Just assume everything which just pops up...can be one or the other. It's rarely innocent." Stopping short for someone who decided to jam on their breaks, glad for his own quick reflexes, he cursed and flipped them off, shouting something about people who shouldn't be driving if they couldn't handle the weather, he sat fuming as he waited for them to put their gas pedal to good use. He hadn't rolled down his window to yell, he never did, but he still shouted and yelled.
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Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2023 10:18 am
"I'll keep it in mind, hole myself up in my shop if I need to." Maybe he'd invest in keeping a small fridge of things there just in case, stocking it with food and drink. It'd have to wait until the holiday ended though, all that craziness in the stores made it hard to shop.
"I think it'd be nice to see what your paintings look like, considering I've shown you a bit of mine." Little snapshots of moments and people, small little paintings to keep behind the counter. Never really for sale but there just to pass the time.
He held onto the safety bar as he cursed, his foot jamming against the floorboard as he slid forward. It hurt and he pulled his leg up to try and stop that from happening again with how hectic the drive was with all the people on the road. Looking over at Alexandre once the pain started to calm, he tried not to laugh at how angry they'd gotten. It tickled him how angry someone so small and delicate-looking could get.
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Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2023 10:53 am
"It might not be a bad idea, some of the snow has been locking people inside cras and buildings." Something which he knew had happened before, not last year though, so it wasn't a surprise to see it's return. "Just incase the snow locks you indoors." As it had been doing to other people across the city.
"Perhaps I'll bring one by to show you." Though his were far larger than the others small little paintings, his mean laying his backseats down in order to get the canvas into his car. It wasn't impossible though, he made sure of that whenever he got a car, he knew he could fit a canvas or two in his car to transport them. It was do able and perhaps he would show what he could do to the other, it wasn't an odd request or anything he had an issue with considering he had seen the others work.
Eyeing the other for a moment. "You're ok?" Having taken note of how the other reacted to the short stopping. "If only these people knew how to drive, then you wouldn't have to worry." A glare shot towards the car in front of him, didn't matter tha the couldn't see the driver.
Shaking his head as he ran his fingers through his hair, tucking his bangs back behind his ears. Turning at the corner, having no issue stating how glad he was the peron was going stright and was no long erinfront of him, as he headed towards the others shop.
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