Holly, Jolly, and Things That End in Olly - RPLOG
Participants
Date
14/12/477
Log
The streets of shanty town are quiet in the winter coolness. Along one of the prominent streets waits Amos Longtooth, leaning against a shabby building. The shabby tom cat fits right in with his tattered coat and milky, scarred eye. Standing beside him is a very nervous looking reindeer.
Walkings up to shanty town and the familiar and hopefully not about to strike him Amos, is Thelergramor. Currently all wolfy again, what with the fur and ears pokeing from behind his plague mask. Armed and such, using his spear almost like a walking stick. All shirtless, with a red scarf and olive-brown pants worn on them legs, he approaches the Amos. "Hey, Amos. How's it going?"
Rainer is just... sittin' on a roof. The roof of the shack against which a certain shabby tabby is leaning. Holds one finger up over his lips should eyes drift his way, motioning for compliance in keeping his presence a secret, the sneaky pete. But why? ...Personal amusement, probably.
Dressed in more...plain off-whitesarong and robes than her usual wont, Surabhi draws up to the gathered crowd, hooves in the mud and a distant look on her face. She hadn't been here since they narrowly averted the riots. She felt a bit guilty for not doing more to help out here...but that's what she was here for, wasn't it?
Kit bag on one hip, hand on the other, the large Bovine draws up to the gang. "Back here again, hm?" she muses to nobody in particular, a wry smile crossing her wide muzzle. She offeres a nod to the unfamiliar faces, and then--"You again!" directed at Thelergramor. "Keep yourself safe this time, hmm? I've only got so many bandages with me!" she playfully scolds.
Dropping from the sky, Cassidy is alone today! Her usual companion not at her side, the well dress, masked fennec shuffles towards the group and adjusts her tophat. "Hello, hello! Nice to see you all today," she says with a cheery tone. "What's happening today?"
Amos looks around as the beings gather. His habitual frown deepens when he sees Thelergramor, and the sour look does not sweeten as he watches the others draw near. "I guess this is all we'll get to work with," he rasps, "Get down here pup, let's get this ball rolling." He does not bother to look up as he addresses Rainer, as if it is the most normal thing in the world for him to spy out sneaky roof wolves.
Amos gives a dry cough and drags the big blue reindeer with him forward. "Our boy Hartford here stumbled across something the other day," he says, "And you folks are here to check it out." The scarred cat gives the reindeer a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "The big guy here has been invited to join a secret society and to bring some worthy friends along," he explains, "You are all to infiltrate this meeting and learn what you can about the society." He looks around at the group and bares his teeth in a lopsided grin, showing the one, oversized fang that is his namesake. "We just need to know if it is anything more than a club," he rasps, "Can't be too careful with all these Old One cults floating around."
"But, Mister Amos, sir?" Hartford protests, "I told you! They said only Reindeer could join the Brotherhood of the Frozen Antler!" The reindeer looks askance at the gathered beings. No deer and three females!
Thelergramor answers Surabhi first: "I'll be fine, Surabhi. It's been forever since I've been stabbed." Nods and turns to Cassidy. "Hey, Cass. Good to see you." Then to Mirana, he nods. Yup. Just a nod to the woman who fixed his knee several months ago... Eh, he's smiling, but masked. A wave to Rainer and then he peers at Amos and Hartford. "So, Reindeer and males only, is what I'm getting. Could always go all basilisk and claim I'm a reindeer..." He shrugs, a viable plan... "Until they ask to see the non basilisk things..."
"Aw." As bidden, Rainer gets to his feet and hops down to street level with the rest, bobbing and weaving his way around the various other beings and settling in at Theler's side, fixing his fellow lupine with a toothy grin and he stretches arms way up over his head and then folds them back behind his head. "Ey, this is Shanty Town. I bet we can scrounge up some stuff to make disguises in no time flat. Besides, secret society cult brotherhood order things always meet in really dark places where it's easy to blend in, right?"
Surabhi snorts at Amos impatiently, crossing her arms under her bust. "So, you knew this...and didn't bother sayin' it in the call for help? Either you better have a damn good reason for wastin' a bunch of good beings' time."
After her little rant, some of the tesnion drains from her face, and she looks to Hartford a bit guiltily. "I'm sorry. It's not right for me to lose my temper like that, but seems your taskmaster hasn't thought this through..."
Cassidy frowns a little and shakes her head. "Yes, I'm no deer. Nor am I male. I mean, I could probably kitsune myself into looking boyish, but... Hmm. I can't do deer, sorry," she says with a shrug. "But hello, Thel. I can probably go fetch my old beggar disguise, too, if needed."
Amos snorts and shakes his head. "I am very aware, Hartford," he rasps, raising an eyebrow at Surabhi's outburst, "And I have made arrangements." The scarred feline gives the group a knowing smirk. He opens the door to the shabby building beside the group. "It was necessary to avoid mentioning the reindeer in the call," he says, "but I have been given special dispensation to use a temporary fleshcrafter." He ducks inside and gestures to the others to follow. Inside is a nondescript black box big enough for a large being to stand inside comfortably. "Step inside one at a time and we can get this operation underway," he rasps.
Thelergramor scratches at his head... and mask. "Uh... Temporary fleshcrafting, yeah?" Grumbles something about creator insanity... "I mean, it'll work but... Someone else want to go first?" Doesn't trust it. Quite obvious in his tone.
Rainer knits his brows and takes a half step away from the opened door. "Ummm..." Tail tucks and he looks between the others with his muzzle drawn in an uneasy grimmace. "Oh well, maybe being a reindeer'll be fun." So up to the box he slinks, giving it a cautious poke and waiting a few moments for signs of a reaction before finally stepping in and... "AAARGHAAAHAAAGGHHABLAGH!!" Thud. Silence. Then out springs Raindeer, sporting a trollish grin on his short new muzzle. "Just kidding. Ahahaha, check me out! I have -hooves-! Cloppacloppacloppa."
Surabhi purses her lips at Amos's scolding, a little embarrassed but still annoyed...though her countenance turns to shock after the crotchety old cat reveals a 'temporary fleshcrafter.' She never did hold much truck with the notion of reshaping themselves so wantonly...
Rainer seems alright going through it...but still, this doesn't seem right at all. " ... you got such a piece of advanced technology on loan to eavesdrop on a bunch of Shanty Towners?" she asks, skepticism at the forefront of her tone.
Cassidy folds her arms and raises her brow behind the mask. "I'm sorry. But what was that? About a fleshcrafter? You want... Me to become a reindeer?" She asks, likewise skeptical. "I mean... I guess. Not preferable, but I suppose I could, if only temporarily. I change as a kitsune, and I don't think it'd be that different. Do I at least get to be a -lady- deer?"
Amos shakes his head at Surabhi. "Not just Shanty towners," he says, "Beings from all around Firmament. My associates and I are worried it might be an old one cult. And they are no laughing matter." He watches as Rainer jumps into the machine and emerges as a reindeer. "There are clothes in that trunk there if you need them," he points, "Honestly, I am glad that none of our responders were reindeer. Means there're no members of the Brotherhood already here." He gives an exasperated sigh. "Listen, it is safe as houses!" he says, "And it's a Brotherhood! Male Reindeer only!" "Besides, Lady Solacious," he says, "This is temporary. Very temporary. You only have about three hours before the change wears off. You need to get to the meeting, learn what you can, and get out before anyone gets wise." He looks around at the group, with a frown, "Any other concerns?" he asks, "Or can we get to work now?"
Meanwhile, Hartford has trotted over to look over his temporary reindeer brother. "Hey!" he says, "That is pretty neat! Nice antlers, Mister Rainer!"
Thelergramor shakes his head, gestures incomprehensibly. Glances at Cassidy. "You'll still be beautiful as a man, Cassidy." He snickers, then, "Eh, screw it. This better not make me a woman, Amos..." Doesn't trust it. Gets all up in that fleshcrafter... Emerges as reindeer. Pulls off his mask; doesn't fit his face... readjusts the straps. Fits fine! "Yeah..." Nods, takes a few steps away... checks his pants. "Yep, still a man." Shrugs.
Raindeer was just starting to examine those antlers for himself when Hartford comes over to compliment them, and he continues to rub and squeeze them all over as he lowers his gaze to address the only natural cervidae in their midst, "Ha, they're neat! ...I never thought to ask before, but do they -do- anything?" His bottom lip juts out as Theler emerges in his altered form as well. "...Hey, wait a minute -- why do you both have bigger horns than me?"
The look of wariness is still stuck solidly on Surabhi's face, but it doesn't seem to hurt Thel either...this still seems awfully strange, though. "Associates, hm? Before I go changing the form the Creators were happy to give me on your say-so...who would they be?"
Cassidy keeps her arms folded and stares intently at the machine. "Well. I guess. I won't like it, and it'll be awkward from my own body. But if it's only a little bit, then so be it." She removes her own mask and hat before stepping into machine. She closes her eyes for the duration, and when she steps out she's not looking the most... Happy. The black furred reindeer adjusting her- His, bowtie before resettling the hat atop his antlered head. "I feel ridiculous."
"Of course it's ridiculous," Sinead says, as the ferret makes her way to the group. She sets her bag aside, then gives the chewed-up tomcat a nod. "Amos." The ferret looks over the small group, sighs, then takes the next spot in line for the 'temporary' crafter. "This had better be as important as you said."
Amos had thought that the shabby coat and perfunctory mannerisms and surprising resources would give him away as a member of the King's Spyguard. "I work for the Good King, Lady Strongheart," he says, "I probably even have a badge and paperwork around here somewhere. Now MOVE!" The shabby feline has sauntered smoothly up to the bovine woman while he was talking and gives her a firm shove into the machine, giving a satisfied nod at the burly reindeer that steps out the other side, even as Surabhi undoubtably glares daggers at him. He looks at the shiny new herd of reindeer men. "You look fine!" he rasps, "Now if we can move along?" He gives Surabhi a LOOK, "We have not got much time."
Hartford shakes his shaggy head, standing a good head and shoulders taller than even the tallest of the group. "You're just younger, Mister Rainer," he says, "Every year they grow in a little bigger." At a nod from Amos, the big blue reindeer coughs and looks embarrassed to be addressing the group. "Um, well, uh, Hi guys," he stammers, "Uh, I guess we can go to the meeting now. It's not far." He gives a smart salute to Amos, who returns it lazily, then marches out the door and down the street.
Thelergramor nods and stuff. "Yeah, I'm ready to go." Rubs his mask again, his now different fur bothing him to the point he doesn't want to touch it... Grins, peers at Rainer. "Not the first time part of me was bigger." He means his muscles. Shh. Moves over to Cassidy. "You look lovely, Cassidy." Pats shoulder, possibly, then heads towards Hartford. "I'm ready to go talk to this club if you are." Squints at Surabhi, then shrugs. Adjusts his mask again and nods at Sinead in greeting.
"Well that figures." Raindeer goes into full pout mode, folding his arms across his chest and huffing at his lot, eyes following each of the remaining members of their group as they file through the machine, and making incredulous gestures as, one after another, they each come out looking manlier than him. In the end, all he can do is hang his head and heave a defeated sigh, falling into step with the rest. "This is so unfair."
Surabhi stumbles into the machine quite unexpectedly, and emerges as a hefty, bulky, white all over with an ashy grey spot down her--er, his neck, normal horns replaced with...quite the rack. S--He instinctively looks upward at the new weight on his head, though naturally he can't see much more than a couple prongs. Well, it seems legitimate, though he's uncomfortable in this new skin. And looking a little ridiculous, still dressed in a woman's flowing white robes...
Cassidy spends a few moments fussing with his hat, trying to get it to sit properly before shrugging. "Well. Yes, I suppose we should go now," he says, then fussing with his slacks which clearly didn't fit right. A little loose around the hips. "I am eager to get this done with and back to my normal self!"
Sinead finishes adjusting his new clothes, then ties his ascot back in place to hide the pendant hanging around his neck. He frowns a moment, then shakes his head. "And I had gotten used to being so short..." he mutters, then shrugs. "Alright, lead on. Let us find this League of Evil Reindeer."
Amos tosses a tunic and breeches to Surabhi and waves the newly minted reindeer out the door after Hartford.
Outside, Hartford is leading his little cervine parade to the city side outskirts of the shanties. Now that he is among a bunch of guys all headed to a get-together, he is feeling much more in his element, and doesn't seem so nervous anymore. "And then this guy, I think his name was Helmet or something, starts dancing on the tables!" he says, telling a story about when he made the switch to the reindeer set, "I can't really remember a lot after that. It is all kind of a blur." He stops talking as the group comes to an ugly warehouse only a stone's throw from the city gates. "Uh," he grunts, looking over the others, "We ready?"
Thelergramor rubs at his antler-type things... Antlers. "Yeah, sounds like you need to drink more, Hartford. Get better at remembering. But, I am ready, yeah. Warehouse, huh?" Silently wonders if he'd broken into this one before... Is pretty sure he hasn't... Can't remember. Glances around... nods.
"Don't you think you're a little overdressed for this?" Raindeer wonders as he considers Cassidy's attire, once they're well along and it's too late for her to duck back for one of Amos' costumes. "Then again maybe the rest of us are underdressed. Oo, maybe we'll all get matching hooded robes. Oh, no, wait, how're we supposed to wear hoods with these things sticking out of our heads?" He swings his head about haphazardly a bit, huffs, and shoves his thumbs into the waistband of his pants. "Maybe a bunch of hats we can hang on them."
Surabhi struggles with unwinding the sari, tangling it amongst her--er, his new...adornments. "Oh Brahmans and Holstiens! Hold up!" he calls, managing to hop along pulling up his new breeches. He slips on the tunic loosely, then sets to unravelling the length of cloth and dropping it outside the warehouse. It wasn't wasteful. Maybe. Maybe some poor Shanty Towner could use the new outfit. The hefty ashen-white reindeer peers at Raindeer. "You're far too enthusatic about this, y'know."
Cassidy shakes his head at Rainer. "I'm always well dressed. Always!" He says with a smile. "And yes, I think hoods would be rather difficult," he grumbles, still a little unhappy about the situation. "But yes. I am ready, Hartford."
The ex-ferret gives Hartford a small nod. "Ready, Hartford," it says. "Anything we should be expecting? Secret handshakes? Passphrases? Or are we all just your new recruits?" it asks, tone curious.
"Dunno," Hartford says, "This is the first time I've ever come!" Given the go ahead, Hartford gives the door a hearty knock. After a moment the door opens a crack. "Password?" a voice asks from inside. It is apparent that the doorman is another reindeer, as his antlers stick out from the doorway, though he seems to be hiding in the shadows as best he can.
Hartford looks dumbstruck for a minute, and his brow creases in thought. After a moment he gives up. "I can't remember Al," he says, "It was too long! Just let me in. It's me, Hartford, and I brought along some other guys." There is a snort from inside and the door closes for a moment. There is a brief scrabbling from inside and the door opens wide to reveal a reindeer even bigger than Hartford. "Come on Hartford!" he says, "You could have at least TRIED to remember!" The two deer grin at each other before rearing back a little and clashing antlers with a loud CLACK! "Go on in," he says, "I got you covered."
"Thanks, Reg," Hartford says, leading the way into the warehouse. This is only a small guard room. There is another closed door on the other side of the little room and muffled noise can be heard coming from it. Hartford reaches out a hand and pulls the door open, revealing a strange and unexpected sight!
The warehouse has been converted into a sort of banquet hall! There are several rickety tables set up along either side of the hall with some simple food spread on them. A whole mob of reindeer are milling around chatting and occasionally cracking their antlers together. There is a small raised dais at the far end of the room. Looks like the meeting hasn't started yet. But these guys don't really look like crazed cultists.
Thelergramor rubs at his mask again. Shrugs. Walks on in, looks around... Raised dais? Cultists. Clearly. The reindeerilisk coughs into his mask, peers about the room. "Huh. Nice place." Sarcasm, but sounds genuine, as he walks off towards the dais...
"I get that a lot." Raindeer observes of Surabhi's comment as Hartford approaches the door. He watches with raised eyebrows and an unusual stillness, as if he were ready to bolt at the first sign of trouble, but when the door opens and heads collide he smiles big and wide. "Oooooh, so -that's- what they're for." In he strides, looking about, though not for very long. "Sweet! Free food!" And off to the buffet he beelines, his flopsy little deertail wagging.
Surabhi huffs and snorts...seems being a Reindeer wasn't so different after all. A secret society and they wave of security and allow strangers to waltz on in?
He cringes as the pair headbutt each other. So violent! But...hey, drinks! He shoulders his way over to the table and grabs a dirty old mug of bootleg booze...whatever helped him blend in, right?
Cassidy gives a quiet chuckle at Hartford's... Method. He shrugs it off all the same and follows after, his hooves... Oddly not making any sound as they fall upon the ground. They didn't SEEM dark or aggressive, yes, so maybe it wouldn't be so bad. Like those odd Church of Luck folk. "Can't argue with free food, I suppose!"
Sinead discreetly observes the group of reindeer as they file into the warehouse, and sticks with the others as they seem to all file towards the banquet table. It looks over the group of prospective cultists already assembled as well, mentally taking notes and comparing behavior and making small adjustments to its own body language to fit in better. By the time Sinead has reached the buffet table it's projecting a cheerful if somewhat vapid demeanor, making a show of having trouble deciding what food to take, and then slipping off to a seat to look busy eating.
One of the Reindeer at the drinks table laughs and tops off Surabhi's mug. "You new, buddy?" he asks, "Don't think I've seen you at a meet before!"
Rainer finds himself amidst a small crowd of chatting deer. "Hey there pal!" one of them says, wrapping an arm around the wolf-turned-reindeer, "Nice rack! How do you keep it so polished! The Missus wouldn't be able to leave me alone if mine stayed shining like new like that!"
There is a bit more genial milling around until a reindeer wearing a strange outfit takes the stage. He seems to be wearing some kind of harness made of red leather and festooned with little silver bells. "Brothers!" he bells out, "Brothers! Welcome! I call to order this meeting of the Most Ancient Brotherhood of the Frozen Antler!" There is a general cheer from the crowd and they all jostle around for good spots to see the dais. "In the name of the nine I welcome you!" the apparent leader calls out over the excited hubbub, "The Eight and the One and the Great One that follows after!" There is another excited cheer and the crowd settles in to listen to the speaker. NOW we are getting some good cult stuff!
Thelergramor cheered when the others cheered, because, blending in! Having already been approaching the dais... Thelergramor is likely pretty close to the front. Has no idea what this guy is talking about, but acts like it all makes perfect sense to him. And, as it wasn't mentioned but makes sense... Left his weapons with Amos...
Raindeer looks acutely uncomfortable from the moment the arm is around him, less for fear that his cover might get blown and more because it severely hampers his ability to shovel ungodly portions of food into his face. Smiling and nodding up at the buck who's snagged him after every exclamation, he keeps eyeballing the table, pawing desperately at the closest morsels to no avail. "Oh, um... razorgrass salve! Yeah. Razorgrass salve. I thought that was common knowledge? You just crush up a bunch of razorgrass and mix it with a bit of honey and water and rub it all over, once a week or so. Yeah. Learned that from my mom. Seriously, you guys didn't know that? Huh. Strange." He manages to ramblingly stall thusly until the harnessed buck takes centre stage, much to his relief... only to get herded over to watch by the same deer that's -still not removing that dang arm-, turning to look back over his shoulder with quivering lip as the table laden with delectables grows further and further away.
Surabhi slurps at the drink. Not...bad. Well, a bit more burn than she would've preferred. And a little too bitter of an aftertaste--it's obvious this wasn't made of top-quality ingredients. "Oh? Thanks!" he calls out after the top-off. "Yeah, I'm not one for these kinda things, but I couldn't say no to that big lug," he says with a snicker. His pop up at that grand announcement. Hmm...is this just one of those spectacle for spectacle's sake, or was there an actual something to it? With another slurp, he thinks over all the groups, societies, and miscellany he's learned--well, as his normal noble Bovine self...does the Eight and One and One ring any bells?
Cassidy folds his arms again, leaning back as he takes in the sights. He eyes the odd cervine with the harness, brow raised. Odd, certainly, but it didn't seem threatening yet. There's a little snuff, and he eyes Rainer and his 'companions' before dropping his hands, setting them into his jacket pockets. "How strange," he murmurs.
Sinead tilts its head to the side and very nearly twitches its nose as it listens to the speaker. Its ear flicks at his words, and Sinead echoes the groups cheer, clapping, before it looks around at the other reindeer and tries to place that strange thought that came up...
The leader raises his hands high over his head, setting his harness and bells jingling. "We call upon the eight!" he cries out, "Arise oh Eight! Ascend over our mean thresholds! Over our meager walls! On! On!" The other reindeer take up the chant of "On! On!" as seven other big deer make their way to the stage. The crowd is stomping their hooves and banging on tables as they chant. The eight deer on stage are all wearing bell festooned harnesses, each slightly different from the others, but all of them egging on the crowd to greater fervor!
After a moment, the leader raises his hands again and the chanting dies to an anticipatory silence. "And now an avatar of the One has come to us!" he shouts, an announcement greeted by a great cheer, "Tonight he shall ascend!" Surprisingly, a troop of reindeer have laid hands on Hartford and are dragging the poor bewildered reindeer toward the dais!
Thelergramor was all up in them cheers and such! Is a blendwolf! Deer. Thing. Anwyway... He squints when they start dragging Hartford to a dais. Glances at his allies... Is 100% sure he could drop everyone of these crazy deer if he had to... Since, they look like they might be about to sacrifice Hartford. And that'd suck. Hartford's a bro. Taps the closest reindeer. "Hey, new here, what's all this on about?"
If there's anyone amongst them who's liable to get swept up in the moment, it's Rainer, regardless of what body he happens to be inhabiting. "On! On!" he chants with the rest, pumping his fist over his head and looking hither and yonder with the -biggest- grin. He's a part of a thing! "Hey, you didn't tell us you were the One, Hart!" he barks at the unwitting buck being dragged up onto the dias, before turning to the deer that wrangled him over here and gently elbowing as he proudly remarks, "I'm with the One."
Surabhi joins in the "On, on..." chant, though without the same particular fervor, just trying to fit in...the wheels were turning in his head, and he things he knows what may be going on--though he startles, eyes going wide as they take poor Hartford. After some shoving and clacking of antlers, he reaches Cassidy and tugs on his ear. He--well, she--well, Cassidy--acquitted herself pretty well on the trip to Firebough, hopefully he would be able to keep order here. The great white Reindeer whispers something harshly to the shorter, top-hatted one, though it goes unheard by the rest of the chanting crowd.
Cassidy gives a flick of her ear as it's tugged on and whispered into, but all the same she gives Surabhi a nod. "Yes, I'd thought it might be something harmless," she murmurs quietly. She turns her eyes back to the others, content to stay back and out of it for now. Simply monitoring and observing the situation.
Sinead frowns for a moment as their guide is singled out. She does her best to follow along with the clapping, but as a new recruit she can hardly be expected to know everything... she shoots a glance towards the others that had come in with her, hoping they all kept their cool. After all, some expenditure of Being Resouces may be required.
Hartford is dragged onto the stage amidst the cheers of the reindeer crowd. The big lug seems worried and confused as the leader comes over and drags him center stage. "Behold!" he cries, raising Hartford's arm with his own, "The One!" The crowd joins in, cheering "The One! The One!" as poor Hartford stands there, confused and bewildered. A voice from the back of the crowd, apparently Reg, from the door, calls out. "Do the Trick, Hartford!" he shouts.
On stage, Hartford jumps a little at the call, then realization seems to dawn. The big blue reindeer starts to blush. Through his thick blue fur? A flush of red starts to run across his blue fur and his big velvety nose starts to glow a gentle red.
The hall erupts into a cheer which turns into a rough, vaguely melodic chant from all the reindeer men. "You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen!" they chant, beginning to sway. Those don't sound like the names of Old Ones!
Thelergramor is thoroughly confused! Jus squints behind his mask and watches Hartford... glow. Just what kind of spirit did he get mixed up with! <The holiday kind!> Thel rubs at his mask, peering around at the 'cultists' or whatever is going on with these guys.... He also looks for dancing vixens, since those sound awesome...
That's a new one. Raindeer's face contorts as he struggles not to burst into laughter at Hartford's little trick. It wouldn't be half as amusing if he didn't look so embarassed to be up there doing it. Now there's singing, and since he doesn't know the words he... refrains from joining in, smartly, just humming a note here and there as close to on key as he's able. "Why do I feel like I've heard this somewhere before." Anyway, as long as this musical number doesn't end with them all descending upon Hartford to feast of his succulent meat, he's 'bout ready to write this culf off as harmless.
Whatever Surabhi expected at an underground club in Shanty Town, it wasn't this...and seeing the poor Reindeer up front, with his glowing nose? He can't contain himself, and starts roaring with laughter!
"HA!" The giant, snow-white Reindeer throws himself into a gap of the swaying, singing reindudes, dangling his now-empty mug across their shoulders. It was nice to come out to this side of town and see something besides riots, wakes, and muggings. "Y'all fellas are alright!" he booms, though it's still hard to hear him over the festivities...
Cassidy stares at Hartford. Did he... Was his nose glowing? He hangs his head for a moment and pinches the bridge of his nose. It takes all he's got to not crack up and burst into laughter, but he holds it back. "Oh goodness. I'm just... Going to be over here," he says, wandering towards the buffet table, looking for a drink.
Sinead frowns for a moment, looking over at Raindeer, and Sura, and Cassidy. Whatever the joke is, Sinead doesn't get it, but she keeps it to herself as she continues observing the strange meeting and the odd rituals. At least they didn't seem nefarious...
The crowd continues their chant. "Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen!" they sing along, swaying back and forth, not quite in unison, "But do you recall, the most famous reindeer of all?" There is a collective gasp as the crowd takes a deep breath. "RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER!" they bellow together, then the room erupts into cheers as the reindeer all break up into their own celebrations. The eight reindeer on the stage gather around Hartford and outfit him with a bell harness of his own.
Surabhi's newfound friends carry the temporary Reindude with them back to the drink table, where an impromptu drinking game begins. Rainer is finally dragged back to his beloved buffet and the others are left to their own devices. They all have another hour or two to enjoy their brief foray into the world of hooves and antlers, after all.
Thelergramor's confusion continues! Doesn't get it. All male reindeer... A song... Glowing Hartford... "I don't get it..." But what he does get, is that he was supposed to report to Amos... Does so with the words: "They're crazy, but harmless." Later. AFter... staring in confusion at everyone for a while...
"I hope he likes nicknames. 'Cuz that one... that one's stickin'." Raindeer remarks, more or less to himself, before it becomes too much and he just has to laugh aloud at poor Hartford. Everyone here's so jolly they probably wouldn't bat an eye at a little hysterics anyway. "He -does- have a very shiny nose." the fawn remarks as he settles in with his impromptu buddies, finally getting to stuff his face to his heart's content, "I could almost swear it was glowin' for a few seconds, there."
After another deep draw from the mug, Surabhi sets it down with a hefty thunk, turning to the buck next to him. "Beat THAT!" he declares, punctuating it with quite the impressive BRAAAAAAUUUWP and a snorted, choking laugh. "Hey! HEY!" the hefty white 'Deer calls out to Sinead and Cass. "C'mon! I bet we could beat 'em all at their Reindeer Drinkin' Games!
Cassidy looks down at herself and frowns. She almost feels bad for impersonating someone in what seems to be a simple party, or otherwise a fun gathering. All the same, she helps herself to some of the drinks, if in moderation. She didn't want to get -too- drunk now, lest she lose track of time and have her guise fall apart on her!
Sinead blinks at Surabhi, the deer's ear flicking before it gives its head a little shake. "No doubt, but I'd rather not do that to... myself, if I do not have to. I am content to observe for now. Thank you though." He reaches over and pats Sura on the shoulder, then goes back to mingling.
It is quite a gathering! Raindeer manages to distinguish himself as the most horrifying eater the brotherhood has ever known and Surabhi turns out to be the greatest drinker the brotherhood had seen in ages! The bovine turned reindude even manages to win the annual Antler-Lock wrestling contest and the Alphabet belching recital will be talked about for years. As for the others, they are able to participate in what seems to be a party based on scraps of an old Creator legend about some very special reindeer and a jolly fat man. It is nice when there is good news to bring to old Amos and all of the party goers are rewarded for their efforts.
