The Lodge of Petrichor has many visitors for the first public play-day of Dame Tom's litter of Stoats after the turn of Spring. While at first they were all gathered together, they've slowly broken off in their own directions as hopefuls from the spectators step forward to try to win themselves a companion. These young stoats are free creatures, and while they're more used to people than typical stoats, it is on the people present to earn their companionship.

One of those who have made an effort to win the heart of a stoat is Jules, and the stoatlet upon which he has set his eye is... Wait, where are they now?

Of all the stoats, this one is easily the most energetic of the bunch. If the chaotic cuteness that stoats were known for were on a scale from 1 to 10, this little fellow wouldn't care because sitting around to be measured is for losers. Twice, now, Jules' has already attempted to win the fellows attention with pie-filling coated fingers. Twice, now, the ruse has seemed to succeed only to fail at the last second as the stoatlet goes to chase a random bug or attempt to dropkick a cloud. Getting this one out of all the bunch to focus will be a challenge.

Jules continues to focus on his little friend with his pie-filling coated fingers, squatting and waddling forward in the process. In the attempt to get his stoat, he waits this time for the little fellow to come forward this time while he draws the sweet covered fingers back in towards himself. His own level of excitement nearly bubbling but still contained.

Jules checked perception + performance at difficulty 25, rolling 17 higher.

Anisha is settled at the tables near the pie cart. Duchess Fianna has apparently been relegated to bird-sitting, and the Chill One is on the table before her, resting on Anisha's cloak and indulging in a small bowl of cream, a small bowl of water, and a three-quarters eaten slice of pie. It's good to be queen, which is surely where the Chill One is headed. As for the Whisper, she's sipping her wine, and shifting her attention to Jules. "He's a good fellow, that one." She offers, to Fianna. "I'm given to understand he's in service primarily to Lady Mikani?"

Jules still has his fingers there but rather than simply just leaving his fingers there, he begins to jerk it back as though to stop the little fellow from reaching it. Periodically he begins to dart it from one place to another, then ducks it into the grass to hide it. If he should pursue it then he darts it to another location and make a boo when he darts it away.

Sparte GM Roll checked perception(1) + randomness(6) at difficulty 30, rolling 7 higher.

Fianna rarely goes anywhere without treats for her animal friends (and future animal friends). She is careful not to disturb Evensong perched delicately upon her forearm while her free hand reaches into a pocket for treats. What she retrieves looks almost like a small wafer and she offers a little piece between nimble fingertips for Evensong to peck. "You have the /prettiest/ feathers." she practically fawns at the songbird. Her attention is then snagged by Jules across the way and the energetic stoatlet that bounds from here and there. She nods at Anisha. "Yes, that's right. I'm glad to have gotten to know him better this past month." A beat, "I hope he's able to snag that little stoat's attention. It's got energy to /spare./"

This chaotic little stoat needs a nickname, and so we'll just call him Mr. Hops. No relation to the rabbit. Mr. Hops is having the time of his life, which is approximately any moment that he is experiencing directly following another. The enthusiasm he has for his play is rivaled only by-

Oh bugger all, where did he go now. He ducked into the grass and vanished somehow.

The answer is soon revealed as he squeezes out of a small burrow hole several yards away with a terrified little snake in his jaws. Apparently nobody told the snake there would be a home invasion today. Running up to Jules with his confused and potentially venomous new toy, he begins to mirror the back and forth motions back at the human. No no, YOU try to get MY treat! Don't you want it?

Evensong agrees with Fianna! The little brown nightingale vocalizes happily, taking a careful hop closer and she begins pecking at the wafer. Chirping in-between at Fianna to let her know she's appreciated. Evensong doesn't care about stoats. Evensong has wafer. Who's winning now, stoats?!

Anisha, meanwhile, takes another sip of her drink, and gives a small chuckle as Jules goes runabout. "Well, near as I can tell, so does Messere Jules, so assuredly those two are well-matched, mm?" She suggests. Then breaks out into laughter. "...Oh dear..." She sighs. "Mm. Lady Lenne has a lot of lovely things to say about Messere Jules, so I am glad he has a good home with the House Crovane." She glances over to Fianna. "You do have a lovely family, my lady, and I have been honoured to get to know them. Hopefully, I will get to know you as well. I'm given to understand you're rather well-known for your horsemanship?"

Sparte's jaw drops slack for a moment as he notices what is taking place. "I, uh, I don't /think/ that kind of snake is dangerous." His confidence is not compelling.

Mikani smiles as she watches Jules. She speaks to Fianna and Anisha, "I am proud to know the man and honored to call him my associate if not friend." Mika says with a certain amount of pride in the man. "Life is certainly more interesting with him in it." She grins as she watches him. "Oh the Duchess is amazing with horses. Horses and Human relationships as well. I was terrified of horses and she eased even me into a loving relationship with my Cookie."

Jules checked dexterity + animal ken at difficulty 30, rolling 3 lower.

Sparte GM Roll checked dexterity(3) + lookwhatifound(2) at difficulty 27, rolling 2 lower.

If Jules had thought he was in control of the situation, the arrival of the snake clearly flipped the tables and Jules flops over nearly screaming at the snake. His pie filling covered fingers flop into the dirt to get a delicious grass and rock flavor. He scurries about on the ground for a moment before gettting to his feet and reaching for a stick and begins to tap it on the ground and says, "Dear me! Here you go, a delightful stick to play with." His hair now has some grass and dirt and is very disshevelled. He's tapping it about in a general direction that is almost in front of him as a shield, a very narrow shield.

"I..." Fianna keeps her composure so that Evensong doesn't fret, but there is a slight /tone/ to her voice when she spots the snake in the stoatlet's mouth. "No, I don't think that one's poisonous." she says, agreeing with Sparte across the way. She does grin at Anisha and Mikani afterward. "I've always had a great appreciation for horses and I consider them to be one of my true passions in life. They are such intelligent and powerful creatures. Truly magnificent." Her attention is then snagged by Jules who is doing an incredible job at keeping the little stoatlet entertained. Her dark colored brows rise. "Oh, wow. /Jules./"

What is this?! A game Mr. Hops has never played before?! Delight! Mr. Hops has never seen a human FALL OVER like that before. This is fantastic! Was it the snake? Mr. Hops is sure it must've been the snake! He continues to wave the snake about at Jules, trying to get a further reaction. Can he make the human do another trick?

Then comes the stick.

It would be reasonable to expect an ordinary animal to take the brandishing of a weapon as the end of playtime, or as an upset. Mr. Hops, if you've paid attention to anything, you will know is not reasonable.

When Jules lowers the stick the conclusion is clear in his little hops of joy. Another new game! He rushes up and dances about, swinging the bewildered and increasingly frantic snake at the stick. Look! We're playing together! Isn't this grand?!

Until the snake, in a panic, bites the stick. Abruptly this jerks against Mr. Hops momentum, and he loses his grip on the snake. Success, Mr. Hops no longer has a snake. Problem, the snake is now loose on the ground right next to Jules and absolutely freaking out.

Anisha beams bright to Mikani. "Please, my lady - I expect he couldn't be called any less than a friend." a beat. Furrowing her brow as she looks at Jules and Mr Hops. "...What is he doing?" Blinking. "Cookie is your horse, my lady? I've been meaning to look into getting a riding animal." Since Sparte and Fianna are clarifying the snake isn't poisonous, so she isn't too worried on Jules' behalf. "Perhaps I shall have to seek you out for riding lessons, the-"

Anisha is interrupted as the Chill One suddenly sits up, looks over to the antics of Jules and Hops, and then lets out an ear-piercing chittering squeal. It is not as Chill as one might expect, but after that impressively loud noise, there's a long yawn, showing tiny sharp teeth, and then the Chill one curls up in a stoately circle atop Anisha's cloak again.

Mikani laughs softly, "I don't like to assume. So until I hear it from him ... I will just leave it undefined. I'm good with that." Mika shrugs not even able to discribe what Jules is doing. "Yes my horse. She's adventurous yet kind. What is he doing?"

Jules has never seen a snake used as a bludgeoning device before but low and behold there it is. At the snake's attachment to the stick, Jules begins to fling at it and begins to dance his feet high up so that he might manage to avoid the bite of the most poisonous creature to roam not merely the compact but the world. He has something of a shriek that comes out in that moment and he begins his tottering back. With the snake retreating, Jules backs slowly and when he feels confident does he redirect his attention to Hoppy and then looks around and spots an apple that to reach for...

Fianna smiles brightly when Cookie is mentioned and inclines her head at Anisha. "I've a stable of war horses that I've personally trained. If you would like to visit them, you're welcome to. Perhaps you'll find one that you really like." The Duchess does have a talent for pairing horses with their riders -- she's had several successful matches so far. A shrug then lifts her shoulders after Mikani speaks and she looks over at Jules again. "I'm not sure?" Evensong is given another little piece of her treat in the mean time.

Mikani shakes her head softly, "I'm not good with animals but I'm not sure that is going to work ....." She looks at Fianna, "How is Lady Kalanthe? I should visit sometime and introduce her to her cousin Lord Nakoa. Since they will be growing up together. I hope they get along."

Anisha nods. "I don't know if a -war- horse is my thing, but a lovely stallion of a nice temper would be quite nice." She muses. Furrowing her brow as she looks at Jules and the snake. "...I think he's... Um." She trails off. Evensong gives a couple of annoyed chirps at Chill One, but is quickly distracted by more wafer. It is good to be with someone who understands what's important in life, and so Evensong chirps appreciatively to Fianna.

"Lady Kalanthe is your daughter, then?" Anisha ventures, glad to switch topics, even as she continues keeping an eye on Jules. And Hops.

That siren cry, That brilliant sound! The call to action, Mr. Hop inbound!

Jules is forgotten as Mr. Hops practically dance-skips his way towards Chill and his human companion to chitter in response. It seems whatever was said did not reduce Mr. Hops energy in the slightest, only redirect it towards them.

The little snake still has no idea what is going on but doesn't want to fight while there is flight to be had. Bleeding from two tiny bite marks that thankfully were shallow, it slithers off into the grass to hopefully not be disturbed again.

All of this leaves Jules with some time to recover and gather his lucky find of an apple to try something new. Will it work?

Chill is on a table with a soft cloak, a nice bowl of water, a second bowl of cream. And pie. Hops is on the ground. Hops is therefore inferior and can safely be ignored.

"Then you should meet my Phantom." Fianna says with a little laugh to Anisha. "He is the sweetest war horse you'll meet. Well, wait." She looks over at Mikani. "I think Cookie is pretty darn sweet, so I'll say that Phantom is a gentle giant. You'd like him." A nod follows and she returns her focus upon Evensong. It's cute to watch the tiny songbird peck away at her treat. "Lady Kalanthe is my daughter, yes. I imagine she and cousin Lord Nikoa will be playing together before we know it. I... oh! Hello." It's Mr. Hop! Suddenly close by!

Jules checked wits + performance at difficulty 20, rolling 16 higher.

Jules makes a couple clicking sounds loudly with his tongue to get Hops attention, juggles the apple a couple times to try to get his eyes to lock on it and then rolls it on the ground between his hand, causing the grass to rustle before taking a bigger roll that he hurries over towards.

"I -should- meet your Phantom. And Cookie," Anisha agrees with a grin. Glancing over to Evensong with a small smile, before she reaches out to gently brush at Chill One's neck fur. "...Well, maybe the apple will work better," She concludes. "You're an able juggler, Messere Jules, this is sure to impress your adversary!" She offers up, to cheer Jules on.

Some people have their head on a swivel, Mr. Hops just springs around and swivels his whole body in midair. It makes it more efficient, given he is immediately rushing towards Jules and the sound of potential playtime rather than investigating first like a safety-conscious animal might. When they see what Jules is doing, instant delight! First then try to run back and forth with the apple, then they start to dodge around and over and once (somehow?) under it as Jules rolls it back and forth.

While there is no doubt going to be MANY challenges in keeping Mr. Hops entertained, it is clear they've accepted Jules' as a worthy playmate who will be included in future playtime activities.

May the pantheon have mercy on him.