[Day 9 - Mid Afternoon] Adorable Animals and Co

[Aurilie Alde]

Aurilie had a pretty casual day for herself planned and that included meeting up with Blai and company to see how he was doing. The plan was to meet him with Cynella at the Grand Fair's petting zoo where they could get another chance with the adorable animals before they would be shipped off to elsewhere in the galaxy. However, true to her word, Aurilie had already begun to make arrangements to have a certain nerf shipping out to Mount Joral instead.

Knowing about Cynella's habits, she hoped to perhaps dissuade her from repeating the same actions...or maybe Blai could step in and inform them a thing or two about animals.

[Blai Frayus]

Aurilie had a pretty casual day for herself planned and that included meeting up with Blai and company to see how he was doing. The plan was to meet him with Cynella at the Grand Fair's petting zoo where they could get another chance with the adorable animals before they would be shipped off to elsewhere in the galaxy. However, true to her word, Aurilie had already begun to make arrangements to have a certain nerf shipping out to Mount Joral instead.

Knowing about Cynella's habits, she hoped to perhaps dissuade her from repeating the same actions...or maybe Blai could step in and inform them a thing or two about animals.

Having received Aurilie's note about the trip, the wayward scholar spent a good deal of the start of the morning pondering whether bringing an Icewolf to the zoo as a fellow visitor would be a good or a terrible idea. He felt it could brew some trouble, but in the end the she-wolf's puppy eyes gave him no option, so off he went with his companion in tow. As he approached Aurilie, she could see he had brought a collar and a leash with him, just in case... but the fact he carried them on his hands while the wolf was happily and freely looking around - apparently well behaved, thankfully - suggested that was one more discussion the beast had got the upper hand in.

"Oi, miss Alde!", he waved to her as he saw her near the entrance to the petting zoo. "... good to get back to the festival, isn't it?", he said with a happily relieved smile as the wolf started sniffing around, probably overwhemingly excited with the variety of scents.

[Aurilie Alde]

"Good afternoon, Mister Frayus and Elur," she would greet him with a bow and a smile once he approached, sparing a glance at Elur for a moment. She likely didn't think that bringing the icewolf wasn't going to be an issue, considering how Elur's training seems to be exemplary of Blai's skills. Thankfully, it seemed like most of the critters here were born in captivity and were also young enough to not know too much about potential predators or have certain survival instincts develop.

"Thank you for taking some time from your schedule to join us. It seems as good of an occasion as any. I think this is perhaps as far as you can get from yesterday." She chuckled ruefully. "Have you raise many baby animals before? There are some here even I can't identify."

[Cynella Andrim]

Cynella, sporting her signature jacket, meandered onto the scene with her usual bubbly smile. "I'm so glad that the tragedy hasn't affected the animals so badly." She eyed the wolf, unsure how it'd affect the other animals. However, the others seemed to be okay with it so she was willing to let it slide.

"Ah, I'm so excited. The little plushy did little to assuage my desire for the real thing."

[Aurilie Alde]

Aurilie smiled softly when Cynella joined them at the zoo and would offer her arm if she wished to take it. She understood that this was far less of a date and more of an educational meeting. While she wasn't going to reveal Cynella's dreams of owning her own menagerie, Blai was likely someone who might know a thing or two about starting one.

"Thankfully, I think the attempted usurpers had enough decency to avoid fighting around the fairgrounds. There are families, young ones, and of course adorable animals too," she smiled softly on that final note, it was the reason why they were gathered.

"...I think we've already spent time with the nerflings already." She said as she glanced toward the direction of a familiar booped nerfling, perhaps to vaguely hint another option this time around.

[Cynella Andrim]

"Too bad they didn't have the same sentiment about the museum. Ah, you should have seen the professor." She tied herself around Aurilie's arm and leaned on her shoulder. "The poor man was absolutely distraught."

She glanced over to her intended and raised a brow. "Oh? I suppose there are other animals to behold. Hehe..."

---

OOC: It's come to my attention that she most certainly doesn't have the plushy yet!

[Blai Frayus]

The man noticed some side glances at the Icewolf, but he met them all with a kind smile, and getting some treats from one of his endless pockets even had her give him a law and stand on her two hind legs - which probably got some attention from some of the kids around. Whether it would be reassuring enough that her presence wouldn't be trouble was another matter, of course!

"It's no problem at all, miss Alde! In fact I've been feeling I ended up enjoying festival activities less than I should have... Especially after yesterday", he added somewhat seriously, but he:s soon cheerful again. "so I'm really glad for the invitation!" He then greets Cynella as well with a wide smile. "Lady Andrim! Ended up barely seeing you around during the festival! Hope you've had a good time! Despite... Well, you know.", he adds somewhat awkwardly. Then, more serious again, but clearly with a happy undertone seeing the two arm in arm. "The museum... It's a terrible loss, really. I've decided to help with the retrieval and rebuilding efforts after seeing what happened... " Then with a somewhat worried look. "Is that professor Kellen Rist you're talking about? I had been hoping to meet him... Damn, he must be devastated..."

OOC: Sorry for the slow answers! Hope to have some fun here still, was looking forward to the zoo visit

[Aurilie Alde]

"Oh, yes, Professor Rist," she said with a knowing nod, having seen the tragedy first hand. Her visit to the museum was to get in touch with history but she never imagined that she would get up close with it as she was dodging shrapnel made of ancient ceramics and wood.

"The last time I saw him, he was decisive and resolute. The Queen needed loyal people at her side, especially in House Rist, and she stepped up admirably. To hear what became of him after is a bit saddening to hear. Picking up the pieces, so to speak, won't be easy." She sighed heavily with a shake of her head.

However, she smiled hopefully at both Cynella and Blai as they are to focus on something else. "Mister Frayus, why don't you take the lead on this tour? We've been here before and again. Do you think any of the cute animals here would make a good pet domestically?"

[Blai Frayus]

"Oh, yes, Professor Rist," she said with a knowing nod, having seen the tragedy first hand. Her visit to the museum was to get in touch with history but she never imagined that she would get up close with it as she was dodging shrapnel made of ancient ceramics and wood.

"The last time I saw him, he was decisive and resolute. The Queen needed loyal people at her side, especially in House Rist, and she stepped up admirably. To hear what became of him after is a bit saddening to hear. Picking up the pieces, so to speak, won't be easy." She sighed heavily with a shake of her head.

However, she smiled hopefully at both Cynella and Blai as they are to focus on something else. "Mister Frayus, why don't you take the lead on this tour? We've been here before and again. Do you think any of the cute animals here would make a good pet domestically?"

"It won't", he agreed with a heavy head shake of his own. "We'll do our best, though... we may be able to salvage some things, at least. And whatever do we save... it may become a symbol of union, eh?", he says with an attempt at an encouraging smile, although it still looks rather heavy and worried.

Another shake of his head and a look at the animals around and he's actually cheerful again, though. "Oh, I'll be happy to!", he said, already thinking of where to go first. Then, looking at Cynella and Aurilie. "Just... only Blai is ok, eh? I guess we won't be needing such formality here?"

Then, looking around and deciding to go towards where there are some Manka Cat puppies, he looks at them happily. "Um... domestically? I mean, as companion pets you'd have in your house?" He seems to ponder for a while, and then gets near the Manka cubs and extends his hand. "I mean, I'd say many of them could make good companions, especially if you train them from their youth. Although... some of them might be happier in the wild, I guess?" Another smile, then, looking back them, then sweetly at the cub as he kneels down to play with it. "But then... some of the ones that don't grow as much I think could easily become pets? Especially with some breeding! Like... even the wolf-cats? Some subspecies are smaller, so with some training and maybe some breeding..." Then, looking back at then. "And then, well, there are the classics. Corellian Hounds, of course, but also Nexus, Tookas - like the Loth-cats, have you heard of them? And Massifs!" Then he looks around for a while, hopeful. "You've heard of them, right? I wonder if there are Massifs here, they're really nice! Eh... a bit too large for small homes, but still..."

Meanwhile, Elur seems to be trying to play with the Manka Cats, who look at her with some distrust... and then the she-wolf suddenly seems to look jealously at Blai. For some reason...

[Aurilie Alde]

Aurilie walked with Blai's lead toward the Manka Cat puppies. It wasn't often she seen them without their tusks and so small at the same time. She gave a glance to Cynella for a moment to catch her reaction. Thankfully, manka cats were more agile and able to fend for themselves from constant booping, she would hope at least. She smiled at the question with a shrug. "Well, I suppose it might not be a pet that's exclusively for the home. There's a large amount of space on the mountains and I'd imagine that any pet would have plenty of opportunities to roam outside."

"Hm, some manka cats can grow large enough to serve as mounts, I believe. Might be a bit awkward to keep indoors." She mused before nodding. "Loth-cats are pretty common in some circles. I know that some members of the royalty like to keep them as handbag pets, although I'd like to think that they are best as anything but. Massifs I have less experience with. What are their temperaments like? And would they do well in the cold?"

[Blai Frayus]

Aurilie walked with Blai's lead toward the Manka Cat puppies. It wasn't often she seen them without their tusks and so small at the same time. She gave a glance to Cynella for a moment to catch her reaction. Thankfully, manka cats were more agile and able to fend for themselves from constant booping, she would hope at least. She smiled at the question with a shrug. "Well, I suppose it might not be a pet that's exclusively for the home. There's a large amount of space on the mountains and I'd imagine that any pet would have plenty of opportunities to roam outside."

"Hm, some manka cats can grow large enough to serve as mounts, I believe. Might be a bit awkward to keep indoors." She mused before nodding. "Loth-cats are pretty common in some circles. I know that some members of the royalty like to keep them as handbag pets, although I'd like to think that they are best as anything but. Massifs I have less experience with. What are their temperaments like? And would they do well in the cold?"

"Oh... for a pet with space to roam outside, most of those would be really great! Manka Cats too even, if you train them well. And like some of the others, they're native to Alderaan, which is always a plus!"

A big smile, some more petting and he guides them towards another area, now with Loth-wolves, while he tries to take another look around looking for Massifs.

"The Massifs... well, they're a piece of work, that much is true. In the wild, or if they don't trust you, they can be really vicious. But as with many other beasts, it's largely a matter of how they're treated and what they become used to, you know?", he adds with a smile - the words don't necessarily make her more confident that they'd be good pets... but it makes clear that he likes them, at least. "It takes some work to make them trust you and understand they don't have to be wary and growl and try to bite everything that nears them... but it can be done, and they can be really loyal if they come to trust you. Oh.. and they're really good hunters, too!"

He then considers the other part of her question. "Now in the cold... " He thinks for a while. "Well, they are reptilian... and they're native to hot desert worlds. Hmm... but I think they can be quite flexible? They'd probably need a place to get warm after a while, I guess, but otherwise I don't think it would be unmanageable!"

If anything, the answer makes it clear that he really likes them. But then, an icewolf like Elur might be a better fit for the cold mountains...

[Aurilie Alde]

"Oh... for a pet with space to roam outside, most of those would be really great! Manka Cats too even, if you train them well. And like some of the others, they're native to Alderaan, which is always a plus!"

A big smile, some more petting and he guides them towards another area, now with Loth-wolves, while he tries to take another look around looking for Massifs.

"The Massifs... well, they're a piece of work, that much is true. In the wild, or if they don't trust you, they can be really vicious. But as with many other beasts, it's largely a matter of how they're treated and what they become used to, you know?", he adds with a smile - the words don't necessarily make her more confident that they'd be good pets... but it makes clear that he likes them, at least. "It takes some work to make them trust you and understand they don't have to be wary and growl and try to bite everything that nears them... but it can be done, and they can be really loyal if they come to trust you. Oh.. and they're really good hunters, too!"

He then considers the other part of her question. "Now in the cold... " He thinks for a while. "Well, they are reptilian... and they're native to hot desert worlds. Hmm... but I think they can be quite flexible? They'd probably need a place to get warm after a while, I guess, but otherwise I don't think it would be unmanageable!"

If anything, the answer makes it clear that he really likes them. But then, an icewolf like Elur might be a better fit for the cold mountains...

"Having more Manka Cats at hand around Mount Joral would do better than borrowing tauntauns seasonally." She would note regarding that idea.

"Hm, perhaps massifs would make better hunting companions than pets in that case. I'd imagine they wouldn't do very well to be indoors for half the day. Also, might be a bit complicated if having them just roam in the wild occasionally, considering we do have a good amount of farmland surrounding the castle. It wouldn't do well to add to the hardships of farmers, atop of the existing predators already." She nodded.

Aurilie offered a hand to Elur, considering they've been probably paying more attention to the other animals than the one in front of them. If accepted, she would give Elur a small pet between the ears. "Hm, what about an ice wolf? Elur has been nothing but gracious and well-mannered during this trip. I'm sure it also wasn't easy dodging some children, thinking she was part of the zoo." She smirked.

[Cynella Andrim]

Cynella, for her part, seemed way more preoccupied with the petting aspect of their little excursion than the socializing. After all, she was here for soft and fuzzy while Aurilie wanted to learn more about potential pets!

As the Prince of Joral had predicted, the manka cats did, in fact, avoid her constant booping rather well. So when it was time to leave them behind, she wasn't so disappointed to let them go.

She glanced over at them though midway through their conversation. "Eh? Massifs aren't going to be nearly soft enough. Though if this is for your hobby, then I suppose it doesn't matter." Still, she didn't seem entirely pleased by the prospect of something not being fun to touch. Whatever monster possessed her when it came to cute and fuzzy things, well, was quite domineering.