IC INBOX

[doubledollar]

Hey, yo! You reached uh, me! You should know who this is, right?
Anyway, you must'a caught me at a bad time, so, uh. Leave a message! I'll get back to you soon as I can. Love and Peace!

username: STAMPEDE

✉ ☏ 📷

Comments

[cheep_soongbird_knockoff]

[They found themself laughing at that, grateful that he brought it up. It helped calm their nerves a bit.]

...

Really? How bizarre! I of course know nothing about this mysterious giant horned bird.

...

...

So what are you going to name it?

[doubledollar]

[ whats the best way to break the tension and get back into feeling more lighthearted? easy, be funny. and whats funnier than bringing up that he's suddenly got TWO birds living in his garden-slash-farmhouse? ]

No clue, huh? Complete mystery? So strange how these things happen.

It's just plain weird because the day before, I found a thomas wandering around outside the Dunkin Donuts I go to for breakfast every morning.

...

I named the thomas Brad, so i thought it apt to name the big beaked bird Luida.

[ rren is gonna get a photo on their phone a few minutes later. a picture of a big, green ostritch-like bird standing nearby the smaller, but still somehow big blue bird.

this is his life now. ]

[cheep_soongbird_knockoff]

ASDFG

I love Brad, a LORGE boy.

Oh hell. That. It is beautiful. I like what I can see of the garden, by the way.

[They had been working hard on their own garden but it was still a work in progress, and somewhat singed looking now.]

And I think the shopkeeper said Luida was a Shoebill? A type of Shoebill I guess, mundane ones are significantly smaller and have less in the way of horns.

The important question? How pettable are they? I need to know. For Reasons.

[doubledollar]

He's pretty big! He's from my home world, they're actually used as a means of travel from place to place because cars are pretty hard to get your hands on back home. ...And I. Am kinda really bad at driving. But riding a thomas is easy! They love to run.

[ upon complimenting his garden though, rren is gonna get a few more pictures on their phone.

two

more

shots of the thing from different angles, showing a myraid of trees and flowers, even a section that looks like crops--olive branches and even grape vines? ]

I kind of have an attachment to nature and plants, so. This is pretty much the best home I've ever had.

And as for petting, the Shoebill is actually pretty chill? She doesn't really move much, and even bows sometimes.

Brad is very friendly. Extremely.

[cheep_soongbird_knockoff]

...

You know when this mess is all over I am visiting and petting both of them, right?

[No they didn't know where he lived. They didn't care.]

I love your garden so much! Might be a bit jealous. Just a bit.

[doubledollar]

Haha, no need to be jealous.

We're friends, so you're welcome to visit anytime. It can get pretty lonely out here, I live way out on the outskirts of the city, out of the way of everything, so.

I might just pawn off some apples and grapes on you, though, they grow out here like crazy and I can barely eat it all myself.

[cheep_soongbird_knockoff]

I am not going to refuse free fruit. Especially not grapes!

If you ever need help in the garden, hit me up.

[Every day things, like they weren't about to deal with hell breaking loose (or breaking into hell, whatever) at any time. It helped. And when they scratched at their head they realized the cat ears had disappeared again. Huh. Calming down really did help with this stuff. Good to know!]

[doubledollar]

once this chaos is all over, it's a promise, Rren.

[ he honestly wants to go back to his calm gardener life and not worry about his friends disappearing into black shadowy gates. his mind still isn't going to let him stop thinking about this until it's solved. ]

[cheep_soongbird_knockoff]

Good. I will hold you to that.

But first. The chaos.

I wonder if I should get anything else?

[doubledollar]

...I was thinking maybe a mask.
Something to cover your identity. We're going up against the people who, basically, run the city? I guess?

Probably best to wear something to hide your face.

[cheep_soongbird_knockoff]

... Right. I cannot believe I almost forgot that.

I mean, if it is the rule for peaceful protests, it is doubly the rule for actively going against someone.

[Yeah, okay, they were going to be stuck on almost missing that detail for a while]

[doubledollar]

hey at the very least there's lots of like
costume shops and antiques shops and stuff downtown

im sure you can find Something

[cheep_soongbird_knockoff]

And if I don't, I have bandanas I can use, but better remembering now, right?

[doubledollar]

a bandanna is definitely better than nothing!

[cheep_soongbird_knockoff]

Yeah. I would rather something a little cooler though. Even if this is serious. I mean, maybe it will help boost my confidence. Y'know?

Probably should pass on the pride flag as a cape, huh?

[Ah yes, back to the fine art of humor to avoid how they actually felt about this.]

[doubledollar]

im having difficulty figuring out what to wear myself

i usually just default to my coat, but
it kinda makes me stick out like a sore thumb

[cheep_soongbird_knockoff]

Take this as a chance to spread your horizons, Mr. The Stampede.

Wear another color.

Any other color

No one would recognize you.

Wouldn't even need a mask.

[doubledollar]

look i just really like the colour red ok

fine

fine, ill wear something different...

[cheep_soongbird_knockoff]

[Had they actually hurt his feelings? Shit.]

Look at it this way, not only will this help you avoid recognition, it will keep your poor jacket from getting ruined.

[doubledollar]

[ no, he's just dramatic, that's all it is. rren will get used to it. ]

You know, you have a point.
I do like my coat a lot.

It was made for me by my friends, after all.

[cheep_soongbird_knockoff]

So hmmm.

You could still go outrageous. Just full on black leather with straps and shit. Just the most punk look possible.

[Because why try to blend in when you can stand out in an atypical manner instead?]

[doubledollar]

[ its a good thing this is over text, rren doesnt get to see the embarrassed look that overcomes Vash's face. ]

thats the

uh

sort of outfit i wear under my coat

[cheep_soongbird_knockoff]

...

[Not that Rren was laughing aloud at that. No. They would never. Thank goodness for text.]

See. You are already set!

I was just going to wear plain jeans and a shirt. But, I feel underdressed.

I need a cool rescue mission outfit.

[doubledollar]

...You know, maybe a more plain look is a better idea.

[ he's got an idea, now... ]

[cheep_soongbird_knockoff]

Look who is being the practical one now?

I guess I can stick with those plans. I guess. May end up with the flag thing anyway. But maybe as a sash or something. Capes are dangerous, and besides I will need my backpack.

[Clearly: Capes are dangerous and backpacks full of fireworks aren't. Logic. Rren had it.]