abraxaslogs | [ CLOSED ] the dawn is opening

I don't think I've ever had goose, but we eat it in my world too. Not the hissing kind though, I don't think; I'm pretty sure they're federally protected.

[And should he know this as a federal agent? No. That isn't his division. He refuses to retain goose-related law trivia.

Jayden is a little apprehensive when a bundle of cloth is foisted at him, but as he realizes they're just merchants, that's... It could've been a whole lot worse. This might not actually be too embarrassing after all, and really, he can't complain. At least neither of them is a swan.]

Yeah, I feel kinda' honored with bein' trusted with such an important role.

[He's joking, but also 'merchant' really is a step up from 'tree', and Jayden hadn't even done his tree time yet. He's taking this as a compliment even though it's obviously just because he and Claude are adults and obvious picks for merchants. And as an aside to the giggling children--]

Besides, I'm actually an expert at runnin' from geese.

[ Protected gets an eyebrow raise, though a brief one, and - well, it probably goes without saying that he's curious about that. But the play certainly has its own demands since now that they have the costumes, there's a clamor from the kids to get ready as more components start to appear. ]

With acting like this, we might find ourselves on the stage at the Old Public Hall before too long. We'll have to be careful word about this doesn't get out.

[ There's no such danger, of course, except being asked back here for more participation as he works to drape the fabric around himself while talking. A little haphazardly, Claude realizes upon glancing down, so he takes it off to try again but not without peering at Jayden curiously with that last statement. ]

An expert as in... here with the ones that appeared, or...?

[ Please tell him there's a story behind that. ]

[Jayden doesn't have the first idea what he's supposed to do with the costume, and is also a little worried he'll accidentally rip the seams or something and make a child cry, so he's very hesitant about it until one of the kids decides to take pity on him with a dramatic sigh. She takes the costume back and begins assisting, and before Jayden knows it he's in costume--apparently a vest and a sash or something?--and the child has run off to help with some of the rest of the setup.

The swan is taking shape.

He looks appropriately unenthused about the idea of anyone finding out about this, and in particular ever being dragged into future productions, even if he's mostly just playing along as well. But as for the geese--]

Uh, both? Mostly at home, though; runnin' into large angry birds is pretty common, and it doesn't take that much to set 'em off. Sometimes you have to outrun a goose or two on the way to work.

[One of many reasons he tends to drive even if he doesn't live that far from where he works.]

I'm guessin' you have fewer goose encounters?

[ Claude's listening as he loops his own costume around him - theoretically, since he needs to stop and start again. Third time's the charm; this time he does pay closer attention to what he's doing when he hadn't counted on this being so elaborate, as if he also has any idea of what might go into sewing something instead beyond watching Hilda work absolute magic, as far as he's concerned. That can't be said for him unevenly putting on this outfit, but maybe that's something he can solve later.

For now, the mental image of Jayden having to outrun a rogue goose while going about his everyday life is certainly enough to get him to grin widely yet again. ]

Huh. Suddenly I'm grateful I was kept up in my office for hours upon hours with hours upon hours of documents to review. I'll take that over being chased around by angry fowl any day of the week.

[ Do geese count as fowl? Another question to ponder, but his geese facts are also few and far between as he shrugs and reaches for his own sash to wrap around and keep everything in place before a group of kids starts to call their names when another monster appears, or so the shouts:

Something green, vaguely pointy but also with a few suspiciously pointy looking things at the top, but not entirely unfamiliar - ]

Uh. Did I miss when the cacti out in the desert turned into our enemies?

[It's interesting that Claude says that, whether or not he's completely serious about it, because--]

I'd rather deal with geese than paperwork. I might even prefer gettin' shot at to doing paperwork.

[In fact he's pretty sure he would, with the 'might' only depending on how much paperwork it is. If it's hours then there's no question he'd rather be out in the field doing something dangerous instead, making for an interesting contrast in Jayden and Claude's so far often similar opinions.

The comment about the cactus earns and automatically dry response.]

What, cacti aren't always our enemies?

[And then he sees what Claude's looking at and... Huh. Yes, he must have missed that, or else he just can't tell what it is. Could be either.]

I wonder if they've been choosin' monsters based on how scary they are, or just how easy the costumes are to make.

[He's starting to think it's the latter.]

[ Look, Jayden has a point about cacti always being enemies. There's even a quip on the tip of Claude's tongue about how he specifically has this coming considering he's used many a cactus as target practice out in the desert. Why wouldn't the cacti have something to say about that? Assuming they can talk, and assuming this one can, too.

But: that's also a good point about the costume as he finishes up getting his into place and then peers closely at what's being brought in. ]

Huh. You might be onto something there, since one of those arms definitely looks like it's made of some containers I've seen around stores that hold random goods.

[ Which is impressive, buried under layers of green paint as they are now, and also perfectly sized to be slipped over a child's arms as one boy picks them up to put on and begin his cactus transformation one green ring at a time. ]

Those containers are pretty sturdy so I have to say, our odds of being chased are growing ever larger. [ Claude's partially kidding just for the humor, but: between a swan and a cactus, the kids have picked some good opponents for them. Any talk of 'strategy' here is pure playfulness since he thinks this might just turn into chaos. ] What do you think our chances are of turning the swan against the cactus?

Probably not good. I feel like swans might be a little too smart for that, and cacti a little too... Not.

[Do monster cacti have brains? Are they like fungi in that they have some sort of weird awareness but no consciousness? Or are they completely unaware while still being animate?

Important questions that probably have no relevance at all to the current situation, considering it's just a play, and actually--]

Think the kids would appreciate some improv attempts, or are they sticklers for the original vision?

You have a point. Plus, I feel like the swans have the advantage considering they can peck. Probably doesn't go over so well with cacti. Well - actual cacti, not ones in suits of armor like this one.

[ Is he taking his own joke too seriously? Probably, but it's entertaining (to Claude). As is Jayden's follow up question since that's also right in line with everything else, and he adjusts his sash as it looks like the kids are wrapping up their own preparations and start to line up with a flurry of shouts to get ready. ]

Based on my tree performance being received at a, let's say, mediocre level of enjoyment, I'm gonna say that day had more specific terms than this one. But since we're in a chase scene?

[ The look of mischief he sends Jayden's way is all the indication the other man gets about his plan. Of which there is no real plan except that when one kid says go and it's time to run, Claude immediately takes off on a lap around the room with some appropriately panicked yelling to boot. The unsaid answer to his question is that yes, he's going to play this up for all they can. It's absolutely to be as ridiculous as possible. ]

[Following silly trains of thought is something Jayden occasionally enjoys himself, so he's neither going to judge nor cares to stop Claude from doing so. He even considers commenting on whether the cacti's spines would slow down swans or, if the cacti are large enough and the spines are sparse enough, if swans wouldn't be bothered, but it seems it's time for the actual play. Oh no. He's somehow not at all ready for this despite all the clues leading up to that it's going to happen.

But although he takes off running with Claude, that's as much of a lead as he's going to follow; he's not going to be doing any yelling, but thankfully it seems Claude's acting is appreciated enough by the children that Jayden is getting away with being a bit more lackluster. He does do his best to keep a straight face, at least, figuring laughing wouldn't be appreciated in such a serious scene.

Things, of course, mostly devolve into chaos from this point, with the cacti and swan kids giving chase and other children screaming and scattering, apparently pretending to also be in the monsters' paths, although a few soon return with toy weapons and begin to bravely battle the threats.]

[ It might be serious, at least to the kids, but there's a sort of joyfulness to being chased by a paper swan that Claude can't entirely discount even if it might upend the play. Just a little bit. Or a lot when it seems that's all that's needed to really get things going.

Jayden takes off running with him, and that's enough to get some laughter out of him in between going right back to being Panicked with a capital P for the full effect up until their brave rescuers arrive with their weapons clutched in hand. One cacti falls first, and then another - though the second one might be because the costume prevented the child inside from seeing she was walking right into a table but with no harm done if the muffled giggles from inside the cactus suit are anything to go by - and the swan's vanquished next.

All that's left is playing up gratitude over their rescue, something which Claude also does with great enthusiasm as it takes a while for the room to restore to any kind of order while they put things back to where they came from post a round of applause from the adults who watched the play go on, and when there's a tug on his hand and a little boy requests they come back for their play tomorrow too it's time for one more grin to Jayden. They can't really say no to that, can they? ]

[ CLOSED ] the dawn is opening

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it's a wrap!