(no subject)

[wisecracked]

WHO: Kenzi and Gil
WHERE: The Zoo
WHEN: 8/10; Morning/Afternoon
WARNINGS: Kenzi's mouth? Gil freaking out over very big cats?
SUMMARY: Kenzi told Gil she was going to take him to the zoo...so they're going.
FORMAT: Quick

[It's nine in the morning and Kenzi...is running a little late. She gets up early enough, early for her anyway, and gets ready to go. Dresses in a light dress and somewhat sensible, as Kenzi doesn't really do a shoe below a three inch heel, shoes; she's even wearing sunglasses and some sunhat that goes along with her dress like Gil said she should. Her bag has sunscreen, which she's already slathered on, and some water in it for the day. One last check to make sure she had everything that would be needed and she's out the door.

The trip doesn't take long but traffic and everything else keeps her.

At the entrance she catches sight of Gil quickly enough, he really does stand out in a crowd, and rushes over.]

Sorry I'm a little late.

Comments

[invoking]

I've heard of animals escaping before. It happened about a year ago. [ Something about penguins or polar bears in the park.

Didn't one get into City Hall? He was fuzzy on the details.

The bear enclosure is much livelier than the previous two; people are close enough to the railing and throwing something -- food -- at the bears below, whom are sitting with their mouths open and catching the food happily. Occasionally, one or two roll over on all fours to meander over to where a piece of food has fallen for them to eat from the ground. ]

The people are feeding them?

[ And all the cooing from the crowd. The kids and ladies especially are going "Aww!" every few seconds when a bear catches a piece of food. ]

[wisecracked]

I...think I remember that. But didn't someone help them out? [She frowns at the people feeding the bears. They aren't supposed to be doing that are they? Either way, the crowd makes it kind of hard to get close enough to get a good look. She's tempted to float over people but that probably wouldn't get the best reaction.]

I don't think they're supposed to but I don't see any of the caretakers around.

[invoking]

Oh, it looks like... [ There's someone selling them bits of food? With a small cart they have on them, there's a small line.

... Five dollars for such a tiny amount. He flares his nostrils at the price. So expensive for such tiny pieces... for bears.

He's tall enough he doesn't need to stand too close, since he can just look over someone's head, but he looks at Kenzi and wonders if she can see anything. ]

Can you see?

[wisecracked]

[Kenzi follows his gaze and sees the cart. She doesn't remember the zoo having anything like that when she was little.] Huh.

[She looks back the crowd with a frown, once again tempted to just float up but Gil's question stops her from doing anything else.] Naw. But they're just bears... [She trails off, eyes growing a bit wider before she bounces.]

Oh! We should go see the wolves if they're out. [It's not that wolves are anything special, she got to see one quite often back home. It's just that she hopes there's one that looks like Dyson's wolf form.]

[invoking]

[ Having never been to one of these in the City before, he has no idea how they go about conducting business besides the sales of tickets to get in. ]

Wolves? [ Are there any animals they don't have here? He nods and waits for her to lead the way again. ] Is that what you wanted to see today?

[wisecracked]

Yeah, wolves. [She gives a shrug as she reaches up to adjust her hat.] I wanted to see other animals too but it might be nice to see a wolf again. I wonder if they have a white one.

[invoking]

There are wolves where you're from? [ Isn't she from a big city as well? Well, if she's gone into the woods...

But that sounds dangerous. ]

[wisecracked]

Uh, there might be wolves but I didn't mean wolves, wolves. I meant shifters. Like, I told you about Dyson right? He's a wolf-shifter type Fae. [A city not too far from the wilds. In fact, the woods kind of meld into the city in some places.]

I just...I dunno, would be nice to see a white one like Dyson.

[invoking]

I remember. [ He nods and looks ahead to see if they're getting close to the wolf enclosure.

He's heard about this Dyson several times already and Kenzi always has this peculiar look on her face. A longing that's evident in her expression and voice. ]

... You two are close, aren't you?

[wisecracked]

[She has the map to guide them. From the looks of it they were pretty close to the wolf den to start with.]

Yeah, he was like my big brother. Hell, we switched bodies once I don't think you can get any closer to someone than that.

1/2

[invoking]

... Right.

[ He remembers hearing that from her.

Awkward. ]

[invoking]

[ He swallows hard and tries to shake the image from his head. ]

It's still strange to imagine someone transforming into one of these animals.

[wisecracked]

[Awkward but the coolest thing ever.

She shrugs.] You get used to it. Or maybe you wouldn't since there's the whole naked thing after.

[invoking]

Na... [ No, he can't say it.

His face is burning hot already and it's barely even hit ten o'clock yet. ]

W-What?! No, never mind!

[wisecracked]

[She looks up at him and snickers. He's so predictable.]

Clothes don't come with the shifting. Which, I guess, could be pretty embarrassing for some.

[The wolf den is in sight so Kenzi speeds up a bit. She really hopes the wolves are out.]

[invoking]

[ He's already rushing ahead of her, pretending this conversation didn't just happen. It's bad enough he's seen her in a towel. Indecent! He's not even married to her and he's seen so much skin!

He feigns deep interest in the wolves instead. ]

There's quite a few of them here...

[wisecracked]

[If a towel was too little what would he think of a swim suit?

Kenzi catches up to him easily enough and has to hold back a happy squeal at seeing the wolves out.] Aw, look at them!

[She scans over the ones that are out but doesn't see a white one yet.] Don't see one like Dyson though.

[invoking]

[ Indecent and confusing. Why expose so much skin to the sun? It's actually much safer to cover up...

He doesn't have to pretend any longer, watching Kenzi's interest in them and then looking out for a completely white wolf. He doesn't see one so far, but there could be more in their den. ]

This seems like a dangerous job. [ He has to wonder how the keepers feed the animals when they're put into groups like this. Wolves especially with their fangs and claws... ]

[wisecracked]

Maybe. But the people working with these animals probably really enjoy it. [She looks around for any path that leads lower so that the wolves can be watched from behind glass. Maybe even a peek into the den. After a moment she pulls out the map to look on there and spots it.]

Oh! They have a viewing area that shows more, maybe we'll see a white one down there. [Before Gil can respond she's already heading off toward the path.]

[invoking]

[ Maybe they toss the food over the railings the same way the spectators do. But that leaves clean up... not a job he would ever like to do. Partly why having a dog, despite being okay with them, is not an enticing idea.

But it leaves his thoughts quickly, observing Kenzi and her eagerness to see this white wolf she's hoping is around. Things have been so stressful the past couple of months and while he still feels guilt for what happened to her in New Vesuvius, he's glad to see her having fun on a relaxing day like today.

He smiles and trails her, keeping an eye on her to ensure she doesn't get too far ahead of him. ]

[wisecracked]

[The whole clean up part is why Kenzi hasn't bothered with a pet. She's bad enough about picking up after herself.

She's eager to see if there's a white wolf like Dyson but not so eager that she forgets Gil is there. Along the way she occasionally glances back to make sure he's still there.

The viewing area is pretty much under ground and much cooler than above. There's a large glass window that lets visitors see right into the enclosure and be face to face with the wolves. Most of the wolves are lazily lying about but some are wrestling. Yet there's still not white wolf to be seen.]

Well, at least we get a closer look.

[invoking]

[ He steps closer, but keeps a reasonable distance as to not disturb her so she can look at the wolves peacefully. He's a little occupied anyway, surveying the glass and the enclosure. Being this close actually makes him a touch nervous. Is that glass durable? ]

You don't see it?

[wisecracked]

[Kenzi settles on the bench near the glass as she continues to watch the wolves. Some kids nearby start tapping and banging on the glass until their parents get them stop. The wolves look over but don't seem to care too much, likely used to people doing that.]

No. I was hoping there would be but looks like there isn't. They are really pretty though, aren't they?

[invoking]

[ He looks on over at them, coming around the bench, but not taking a seat. He continues to stand, watching the wolves with idle curiosity. ]

It's kind of amazing to see them so close up. [ They look... harmless.

Kind of like dogs, only bigger. ]

... I'm sorry, though; you really wanted to see a white one.

[wisecracked]

Not quite as amazing as getting to hug or pet one. [Even if said wolf is really just a shifter.

She shrugs.] It's fine. I just miss home and kind of wanted to see a reminder. [She looks up at him with a little smile.] We can't always get what we want though.