Lemming Shenanigans

[wrotetheworld]

WHO: Shang Qinghua and you
WHAT: Shenanigans and meeting new folk
WHEN: March, before the 4th wall event
WHERE: Various
WARNINGS: None so far

His king could help him with most of his Winter abilities, but the one that neither of them had experimented much with was the whole turning into animals thing. Which was absolutely fascinating, and would have so come in handy back home. Especially for escaping.

Though if a certain someone he knew back home was there, he'd never have touched the lemming form. Because there was no way that Cucumber would ever have let him live it down. But, better to start small, right?

Frostreign
Since he couldn't exactly carry a sword and winter cloak as a lemming, Shang Qinghua had left both at home, meaning that there was one chilly rodent hurrying towards the teleportation node. At least he had fur like this! Course, being low to the ground in snow also made it hard to look where he was going, so the chances of barreling right into someone on the way was... well, not high, but high enough it seemed!

"Sorry!"

Blossomcrown - Park
Considering the various... career paths he'd had across two lives, could it really be any surprise that Shang Qinghua liked to people watch? The less noticable the better. And, it turned out, with some experimentation, lemming paws could indeed hold a tiny brush. Sure, he liked modern pens, but he'd used brush and ink for a lot longer than ballpoints!

So one blue-ribbon wearing lemming was sprawled on a sunny spot on a park bench, taking notes. And occasionally digging into a hammerspace purse for melon seeds. Because melon seeds are the best.

Lunch time
People watching could, surprisingly, build up an appetite. Considering that most cafes didn't really like rodents (magically transformated residents or otherwise) coming in to eat, Shang Qinghua finally changed back to human form. Mostly. The ears had stubbornly stuck around for now, twitching in every direction as he practically inhaled a bowl of noodles up at the bar.

Freeplay!
Have an idea? Give me a poke.

Comments

[roundandaround]

It's a lot of fun! I'm working on learning to turn into a fish right now. I managed a really little one, like a cichlid!

[Mecchan makes a nervous sound, and Rinku pets him.]

What about you, is that a lemming?

[wrotetheworld]

I don't think I'm going to be going down the fish route. Otter maybe. Less likely to get eaten.

[He's not entirely sure what her little pet thing is, but surely if it bit she wouldn't have him up on the counter? So he offers a few fingers to sniff.]

Yep. Cute, small enough to hide, and surprisingly usable paws. Managed to use a brush with them earlier.

[roundandaround]

I guess that's true... I just thought fish were cool.

[Mecchan slowly pokes his head out from behind the ramen bowl. Carefully, and looking like he might bolt any second, he starts to approach.]

Is that how come you have the ears now?

[wrotetheworld]

[Aw, cute thing. See, not scary?]

Got it in one. I'm hoping they'll go away on their own. Preferably before it's time to go home.

[roundandaround]

[Mecchan carefully reaches out a front leg to briefly touch his hand, then pulls back and looks up nervously.]

Hmm... I don't really know how to put them back! I just kind of feel making them go away, and they do.

[wrotetheworld]

Huh. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to figure it out. My king's been helping me with the ice powers, but he's never changed shape either.

[Holds back a snicker, just leaving his hand there a while longer.]

It's very different than any of the techniques they teach us back home.

[roundandaround]

[Confused Sobble noises. Mecchan slowly tilts his head, and Rinku pets him.]

It sounds like it! Everyone's world is already all different and stuff. I didn't have powers at all.

[wrotetheworld]

[Cute little critter. He dropped his hand to take up the chopsticks again.]

Bet a lot of places are like that. Not where I'm from though. We've got cultivators, spirits, demons, you name it.

[roundandaround]

[Mecchan pulls back, but he doesn't run or hide, so Rinku considers this a win. She smiles.]

Cultivators? You mean those guys who study and train so much that they get less human-ish and more god-ish?

[wrotetheworld]

[Shang Qinghua considers it a win because he didn't get bitten. Even if he had to snicker just a lot.]

I wouldn't say we get less human, but kinda? Not sure if I'd say I know any who are god-ish, but immortality's a thing.

[roundandaround]

That makes sense! Everything is different from world to world, after all. We don't have anything like that. I guess Mecchan could evolve if he tried, I wonder if that counts?

[Mecchan looks confused and goes back to his food. He has not mastered chopsticks and is just eating by stuffing his face into the bowl.]

[wrotetheworld]

Eh... Really couldn't say. We don't have little guys like this at home. Least not so friendly.

[Somehow, he's reminded of a cartoon he'd seen as a kid. Too bad he couldn't remember much about it.]

[roundandaround]

Neither do I! I got Mecchan here, when the underground mall opened up. I was trying out all the vending machines, but then he popped out of one! He's from a whole other world too, but I don't know how he got in the machine. He seemed really scared when he came out.

[wrotetheworld]

An animal in a vending machine? That just doesn't sound right.

[Can't help but picture him squashed in between the twisting vending wires. That's just not nice.]

Well, glad you got the poor guy out.

[roundandaround]

Yeah, I kind of worry... But at least he's been getting better now! He hasn't cried once today!

What kinds of monsters or animals or stuff do you have?

[wrotetheworld]

Generally? We've got the usuals. Cats, dogs, horses, chickens. But then we've got beasts and demons too, and they're pretty dangerous.

Don't wander the woods at night dangerous. And unlike your average animal? They're absolutely not more scared of you. Or, you know, at all.

[roundandaround]

Are they anything like the monsters we have to fight here? Aside from the normal being dangerous part.

[wrotetheworld]

Um, some of them? Some of them are a lot smarter and a lot meaner. Or, at least, they can be meaner. Not all demons want to eat your spleen, just some of them.

[roundandaround]

Huh... So it's like how I was talking with that guy in the simulation about vampires. Some of them might be evil and stuff, but some might be nice like Saya-chan.

[wrotetheworld]

You know, I've never met a vampire, but the reasoning checks out. Anyone who can think can go either way.

[Grins, ears twitching.]

Now if I could only convince certain unnamed shidi of that.

[roundandaround]

Eh? Do you mean someone here, or just from home?

[wrotetheworld]

Home! And thank goodness. I don't want to run into him here.

[Playing house with a demon lord? Yeah, not a good way to get into his shidi's good books.]

[roundandaround]

I guess you don't get along, huh? That kind of thing happens a lot, I think... It's kinda scary, but it's also sad not seeing people from home.

[wrotetheworld]

Haha yeah, we're martial brothers but not friends. It's complicated.

[Shrugs his shoulders.]

Wouldn't mind seeing some of the others though.

[roundandaround]

Huh... That makes sense, I guess. It's still sad to have someone who doesn't want to be your friend, though.