Dupree at Tea for Three - RPLOG
Participants
Date
12/1/478
Log
Fenris is waiting near the strange stand of yellow mushrooms, deep in the quarry. He has set up a few ward stones to keep wandering mycogops away, but more interesting is the tea setting for four that he has prepared! Somehow, the fluffy feline has packed a little table, four stools and a rather nice setting for four down here and lit the place with a bit of fire math. There is tea and there are cookies and little sandwiches and everything! Now all that remains are the guests!
In the dim glow of the luminescent fungi, a slender shadow with a long muzzle and tall, flat head looms large. Closer...closer...and around the corner pops Dupree, dressed in long, green, pinstriped trousers that clash horribly with a loud yellow overcoat. Atop her head is a ridiculously large top-hat, wider at the the top than where it meets the brim, though it appears to be held in place by the holes in which Dupree's long equine ears sit, while a card labelled '9/6' sits in the hat band.
"Oh, it's so lovely!" the Mad Mare enthuses, nearly whinnying with delight, her tail bobbing proudly behind her. "And all on my account? You're so nice, Mister Fenris!" she exclaims, trotting over to him eagerly, arms wide for a hug.
Fenris accepts the hug with a smile. "I like the outfit, Dupree!" he says, "Where did you get that hat?" He points the mare to a seat and takes his own. "Now we just need the last two guests for our little party!" he says, "The Puzzler should be easy to contact, but we may need a little help for our fourth."
Even as Fenris finishes speaking, there is a tearing sound, like wet paper and the Puzzler in all his Zoot Suited glory steps out of a tear in the air. "A tea party? How sweet!" the fox grins, "A fine way to meet! We've much to discuss, but first, friends, let's eat!" The mysterious, otherworldy fox takes his seat and looks over the spread, selecting some sandwiches and watching with a knowing grin as Fenris pours the tea. His grin gains a touch of sadness when he looks at Dupree, but he soon recovers.
"Oh! Well, I've never been to someone else's tea-party before, so I asked around the academy, and they said this outfit was worn in one of the most famous Creator tea-parties of all time. And it fit me to a...tea?" Dupree's misaligned eyes circle about, as if trying to find a meaning written in the dark ceiling of the cavern, absently plopping herself down in the seat opposite Fenris. "There was even a Being there! A white Rabbit, in a perpetual hurry, and he would--oh!"
The Mare stops suddenly, catching sight of the Puzzler, resplendent in his Zoot-suit. "M-Mister Puzzler, sir...," she mumbles, pawing at the dirt anxiously with a hoof as she removes her hat, casting her gaze...well, at least in one eye...downward. "It's...I mean...here? I mean...it's good to see you, sir, and--but I'm--" the Horse stammers, picking a muffin out of the spread and fidgeting about with the wrapping to try to disguise her nervousness.
Fenris sits back and quietly sips at his tea, his part is most certainly finished in all of this. All he planned to do here was get the players together.
"Dupree," the Puzzler says, "Don't worry dear, You're situation is very clear. For you, my path is not quite fit, I understand, though I am sad, a bit. I've a cousin here that you should meet, her path might better suit your feet." The green suited fox nods to Fenris, who stands and plucks a pair of the suspicious yellow mushrooms and hands them over to Dupree.
"Eat these, Dupree," Fenris says, "And I hope that your meeting goes well." The fluffy feline goes back to his tea and sets himself to keeping the clearing safe for as long as it takes.
Dupree looks upward (well, best as she can) at the uncommonly large Fox, her eyes shining with tears of gratitude. "And...and you're not angry? B-because I still like you, a-a-and I love your puzzles, and you're still amazing, but I'm just not" her apology is interrupted by a finger raised by the great Fox.
"There is nothing more you need to say, I'm sure we both shall be okay, And though you will leave the fold today, It's better that you find your own way Than force yourself to stay."
Still wide-eyed, Dupree looks to the mushrooms--"Oh, are these the ones from the castle party?" she calls out to Fenris's back as he stands guard, a glimmer of amusement passing through the Puzzler's eyes. Without waiting for an answer, she wolfs (horses?) the handful of fungus down, shuddering at the...indescribability of the flavor, and pulling face as she washes it down with tea. Something about this seems familiar...and yet...not.
The world around Dupree twists and changes. Everything except for the table set for tea, at least. The cave gives way to a landscape of dancing lights and the hint of distant music. Outside of the immediate circle of light, shapes move in the twilight. A deck of giant cards speeds by, chased by a woman in a crown and fancy dress. A walrus in a top hat leads a contingent of little oysters on a parade. Fenris's place has been taken by some sort of sentinel cat with an enourmous grin and four waving tails, and the final, empty chair has found an occupant! Where there was no one, is now a sleepy looking tapir woman with wavy blue hair.
"Hello, Puzzler," she yawns, "You never come visit me! What is the occasion?" The Puzzler says nothing, only waves a hand toward Dupree. "Oh!" the tapir says, clapping her hands in delight, "Hello dear! I wondered when you might find your way here in the flesh!"
This strange new world...seems like home, actually. The figures moving in the distance seem like some familiar dream, though that cat and its massive grin, wide as its face, disquiets Dupree and she fidgets in the chair, looking up(-ish) at the strange, shifting Tapir. Is it up? It FEELS like up...insofar as up feels.
"You...you know him? And me?" Dupree manages to get out before letting out a massive yawn. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to keep you waiting!" the Mare cries, before pausing for a second. "I didn't know you were waiting." She gazes towards the ceiling once more, deep in thought. "I'm not sure who you are, either..."
"Nothing to apologize for, dear," says the tapir in a sleepy sort of way, "everyone visits me sometimes, but I rather like you! I am Zimla, the Lady of Dreams." She sips at her tea and nibbles at a cookie. "These are nice!" she says to the Puzzler, "Did you srrange this? I do love tea parties!"
The Puzzler sips at his own tea and shrugs.
"I never plan this sort of thing, Dupree here needs a change of pace. The fluffy cat who likes to sing Arranged this meeting, time and place.
"The one with the silly heart on his chest?" Zimla asks, then smiles, "I've met him once or twice." She turns her attention to Dupree again. "Now, tell me what I can do for you, love?" she says.
