[Message to All]

[scales_and_silence]

Hello, my name is Doctor Alex Price. Unfortunately my introduction comes with an apology and questions.

Is anyone missing any of the following items?:

-A set of keys with an LED Statue of Liberty keychain and laser pointer

-One purple scarf with silver threading woven through it and beaded fringe

-One of those shower scrubby lathering things (I don't know what they're called) made from the plastic mesh stuff. This has been destroyed, I owe you a new one. I've obtained several from the nearest dollar store in hopes of matching the color of the original.

-Several 1" buttons bearing the logos of 70s punk bands and albums, slightly dented

-A small collection of Disney souvenir pins

All of these items will be returned and/or replaced if claimed.

Comments

[Private]

[scales_and_silence]

My splinter colony of Aeslin Mice. It's- complicated, but, yes, talking, thinking, sentient mice who use tools. They're hyper-religious and worship my family as gods going back about seven generations or so. We're cryptozoologists and the mice are excellent record-keepers so we've found having them around is quite beneficial and as far as we know our colonies are the last of their kind- um, right, nevermind-

Not so much kleptomaniacs as natural scavengers and prone to picking things up that catch their interest. I've done my best to keep them from stealing from people, but things that have been dropped, left out in the open... well.

I... really don't know how to explain the bath thing though. I really, really don't.

[private from here on out]

[peacefulexplorer]

[Lucky to have brought a piece of home with him. An incredibly intriguing piece of home.]

well first things first- as Ive recently discovered its not always wisest broadcasting yourself openly on the network. It is ocasionally monitored

Id recommend refraining from stating your outright location

[peacefulexplorer]

your mice might unfortunatly be something of a liability

there are several organizations present that would likely have an interest in studying them and theyre not run by people in the habit of asking nicely

can they keep a low profile

[Private]

[scales_and_silence]

[laughter]
There's always an organization, isn't there. If it isn't one trying to wipe out all life not specifically mentioned as being accounted for on Noah's Arc, it's one trying to dissect everything in the name of science.

Yeah. My family's motto is "low profile." That includes the mice. I was five when I got my first false identity.

[peacefulexplorer]

called ROMAC. I'd generally advise against affiliation, though they can offer resources and housing. Its a risk. they're not always kind to rifties

in general the sanctity of life isnt something they're interested in examining

[That sounds inappropriately morbid. Daniel takes a minute to reconsider.]

good. I take it science is in your purview?

[Private]

[scales_and_silence]

Biologist, with a specialization in herpetology, and further specialization in cryptids and thus, cryptobiology and cryptoherpetology.

Preservation of the life of said cryptids is... kind of the family business. Which, back home, kind of put us at odds with the giant organization I mentioned. Looks like I traded one for another. Though by the sounds of things the Covenant of St. George and this ROMAC would... not get along at all either. My youngest sister would probably suggest some sort of plan to set them against each other. But my youngest sister is... special like that.

[peacefulexplorer]

really?? that's fascinating- Im an archaeologist, in the broader, more intergalactic sense of the term 'archaeology'

unfortunately- or fortunately depending on your general world outlook- Ive got more than enough experience with shady government-based organizations myself. Im given to understand roman tends to neglect moral boundaries just like your covenant

[peacefulexplorer]

*romac

[scales_and_silence]

The Covenant has a code of ethics, it's just a very... outdated one as to who counts as a person. Sentience has no bearing on this, simply genetics/birth and whether or not your ancestors ever left their organization, other ancestors then seduced other members of their members away from their organization.


If you ever wondered how to start a blood feud with a holy order of monster hunters.

[peacefulexplorer]

Ill keep it in mind. Issuing feuds with morally corrupt organizations is something of a habit of mine apparently

Daniel Jackson, bit late to introduce myself I realize

[scales_and_silence]

Nice to meet you, Daniel. I'm wishing I had talked to my sister more recently. Kicking the collective ass of morally corrupt organizations was apparently her thing recently.

[peacefulexplorer]

Likewise!

fortunately flying below the radar isn't too difficult. are you doing okay for housing and such?

[scales_and_silence]

I think so? Daine set me up with a place. I have a roof over our collective heads and the miniature griffin hasn't caught anyone's attention.

[peacefulexplorer]

[Daine's helped him out? That's good. She's been here awhile, and he trusts her judgment with these sorts of things.]

griffin

well your universe is certainly an intriguing one I wont lie

hopefully it? they? wont attract undue attention either

[scales_and_silence]

I can hear the scientific curiosity. If you really want to see you're welcome to stop by.
And it's just the one. His name is Crow. He's well trained in not attracting attention. I've been taking him to work every day for a while at the zoo back home.

I effectively run... or, uh, ran the reptile house at the Columbus Zoo.

[peacefulexplorer]

I might have to take you up on that.

[This is just way too incredible a chance to pass up.]

Ive got work most days but sunday happens to be my day off, if youre available

[He'll also have moved into his own place by then, which works out nicely.]

[scales_and_silence]

Sure. Bringing baked goods of some sort will probably win you favor with the mice.

Liver wins Crow over, but so does general preening and attention.

I can't guarantee the mice won't be in the midst of some sort of religious celebration, the calender I use to keep track of these things was packed in my fiance's bag and thus was left at home with everything else. Including my fiance. [Okay that part he's a little bitter about, kidnapping interdimensional portal. You bring the goddamn pet griffin but dump him in Central park without Shelby?!]

[peacefulexplorer]

[Baked goods? Well, he's heard there's an incredible bakery hiding somewhere in Manhattan. He might be overdue for a visit.]

I can probably get ahold of baked goods. liver? more difficult. Ill see what I can do.

[He probably can't do anything about lack of liver. Doesn't mean he won't try.]

[peacefulexplorer]

I'm sorry about your fiance

[Loss he can understand. All too well.]

[scales_and_silence]

Thanks. I'm... mostly a little worried she's trying to find a way to follow me.

That's... kind of the path my paternal grandmother took after my grandfather got himself stuck in an alternate reality. Still hasn't found him.

I mean, the time dilation effect has done wonders for her aging, but she's missed out on most of us growing up and... well. [Sad pause.]

I... really don't want anything like that for Shelby.

[peacefulexplorer]

rift has a way of displacing these sorts of things

sometimes when people are sent home they return to the point in their respective timelines from where they were removed

no one has stopped looking for a way out

we're still looking.

[scales_and_silence]

Wish I had some of the family research on me. Though most of Grandpa Thomas's stuff's been destroyed.

[peacefulexplorer]

I wont lie, I miss my research most days as well. probably would have helped yesterday

[peacefulexplorer]

[Wait. WAIT.

Ohhhhh.]

you arrived yesterday

how did that go for you

[scales_and_silence]

Complete inability to lie.

That's been. Um.

An adjustment, considering my upbringing.