2014.11.29:CricketClothingConfusion

Cricket Clothing Confusion
Shifting with Clothes on? How does that work?
IC Date	11/29/2014
IC Time	Afternoon
Players	Cricket, George, Amy_Kerry
Location	Gaian Garou Caern
Spheres	Gaian Garou

She's still got that huge t-shirt and the drawstring shorts that someone loaned her. They're on. But she's in her big fluffy puppy form, galavanting around like this is how this thing should be done. Of course the clothes are probably getting torn up and stained, but she's got her modesty!

George is strolling in to the cavern from the tunnel back to the surface like he hasn't a care in the world and then he notices Cricket and busts out laughing.

Her tail is run down one of the legs of the loose fitting athletic shorts, and trying to wave it just looks very not-right. Looking up, she drops ehr bottom jaw in a grin, allowing one of her littermates to tackle her to the ground. Thrashing and growling and snarling ensues and pretty soon it's a six dog pile.

George catches his breath and heads over in that direction, sparing a moment of concentration to turn off the gift that hides his scent "Goodmorning all! Cricket, why do you still have your human clothes on?"

Flailing! She cheats, though, bulking up to hispo and shoulder rolling her littermates before untangling and reverting to her more natural form to tuck tail and hide behind your legs - the horde not about to go on and challenge a /real/ wolf just to bite her on the butt. <<They come off?>>

George nods and grins at Cricket, not focusing his attention onto the puppies so to allow them at least the illusion that he didn't notice them, "Yes, it takes special magic to not have to take them off to change shape."

Cricket turns in a circle to sniff at her shorts, then circles to sit in front of you. <<They go on. Did not come off when I changed. I do not need special magic.>> Logic, so flawed, but so fun.

George chuckles and tilts his head as he ponders how to explain "When I change shape my clothes change with me. Your clothes are still human shaped and still have your human smell all over them. If you tried to hunt like that with your tail all tangled up I bet you wouldn't have a very good time of it."

Hrm. That IS a bit of a problem. Ears flick back and the cub has to -really- focus on what she wants, the shift from wolf to human is slow and ponderous, full of unsettling noises and sights. When she gets the, she flops over. "Ugh. Does it ever get easier?"

George nods and grins as he takes a seat "Practice, lots of practice. The more you do it early like this the easier it'll be later on. When I was getting my early training my teacher had me take each of the five forms once a day at least."

"Good." She says, then starts trying to fight her way out of the clothes. These thumb things are nice, but fine control is way out of her range just yet. Winding up rolling around, she gets an arm tangled inside her shirt and and has one butt cheek hanging out. "Stupid... things.. COME OFF." Good thing she's of a gentler moon.

George watches Cricket for a moment and shrugs out of his jacket before saying "Like this Cricket." and demonstrating by taking his own shirt off. There's a reason George wears baggy gangsta clothes when he's in the city, an athletic warrior's physique like that would attract attention.

Cricket ceases her thrashing and looks up, dirty and smudged from rolling on the ground. After assessing, she tugs her other arm in and sort of backwards wriggles out of her shirt. Topless. Then the shorts get forward wiggling out of. "Why do we have to wear these things? Fur is better."

George chuckles and shrugs, not very body shy or at least not seeming to be "Mother Gaia made us both human and wolf so we need to learn to live as both. To move about the cities and interact with humans you need to learn how to wear clothes."

Not like cricket has any idea about these parts. For all she knows she pees out her nose in this form. Wherever her nose may be. She looks from her torn and muddy clothes to yours and then back to hers, awkwardly folding her legs to sit comfortably. "Do my clothes need a bath?"

George nods at that and gives the muddy clothes an appraising look "Probably, most people change clothes every day. Sometimes more than once and then they wash them before they wear them again."

"I only have these." She says, frowning. She'll have to clean them! At least she's got her kin taking their kills to the mates of the Elders for even distribution. Trying to settle in and learn the ways of the people she's living with. "Do you have many?"

George nods and shrugs as he pulls his shirt back on "Enough for a week or two. If you need help with learning how to clean yours I'm sure someone will show you."

Cricket lifts the t-shirt, stretching it out all cockeyed and then drops it in her lap. "I have so much to learn, and I haven't even begun on the big things." she says quietly, face scrunching a bit. "Is it easier to start as a human?"

George shakes his head at that "Only for knowing about clothes. I grew up human and not knowing anything about our people so I had to learn how to hunt, how to track, how to survive outside of the cities. Everything you know how to do already."

Thinking on that, the unruly blond nods, "I will ask the kin to teach me what I need to know of being human." she decides, the clothing loosely bundled on her lap. "I need to learn more of the Tribes. BigGrey says to learn all I can before trying to pick a family. and something about a Rite of Passage?" Is that right?

George nods and ponders that question "A very good idea, you'll want to find someone born under your moon from as many tribes as you can to talk to about that. I can help with more general lessons though, about shapeshifting and fighting in the different forms. You probably don't need much help with tracking by smell but what about tracking by sight?"

Cricket gives you a funny look. "Why would I not just use my nose?" she asks, then shrugs. "Everything is very bright in this form." she admits, then pauses. "I have met three of my moon. MaskMan, BigGrey, and Shadow's Glass."

George quirks an eyebrow "What if the mud is dry and the trail is so old there's no scent left but there are still foot or paw prints? Or if someone has a gift like mine that makes them really hard to smell?" he asks and concentrates to turn the gift back on.

Not that she can smell anything, really, with her stunted human nose. "Then I..." she frowns, thinking. "I am the best tracker of my siblings." she says, looking up at you before she sneezes... right into her wolf form. Achoo-poof.

George grins at Cricket "That's another important thing, you can always get back to your birth form quickest and easiest but you're most vulnerable that way."

Cricket rises to all four paws and gives a hearty shake and stretch. MUCH better. <<How am I vulnerable? I have my teeth!>> See? She wrinkles her nose to show of her shiny chompers.

George rolls his shoulders "You don't heal as quickly and you can be cut or stabbed more easily. Oddly enough its not just a question of our in between shapes having thicker hides because you human shape will be tougher than mine eventually because you were born as a wolf. The reverse is also true."

Ears dip back faintly as she thinks on this. <<By making our opposing form stronger, is that a way to encourage us to use it more?>> Like a carrot in front of a donkey's nose.

George nods and grins at Cricket "That's quicker than most people catch onto that. I know its my favorite theory anyway."

>>If their birthform was strongest, no one would ever change. And if we need to use all forms to be balanced, then...<< The cub perks her ears forward, >>It just makes sense. I have been told I am not to be a fighter, but a healer, so I don't need to be especially strong.<<

George shrugs at that "I've known Theurges who barely knew how to heal at all but it does come easier. Your moon is the moon of mystics and sages. Dealing with spirits and knowing secrets are also your birthright. You need to be strong of will and gnosis more than you need to be strong of arm. Doesn't make you less strong."

<<BigGrey.... Mender-Of-Bones, he says strength comes in many forms.>> The cub says with a little bob of her head. >>I want to find out what really happened when the balance broke, and find the way to really fix it.<< Talk about shooting for the stars.

George smiles and shrugs "Uncovering lost histories and bringing spirits into balance is a very theurge sort of thing to do. I'm working on a project related to spirits myself, you know how places can have spirits right?"

Cricket scrunches her face up. <<All places and things and peoples and feelings have spirits, right?>> Trying to recall her lessons. <<So you can have a Sad spirit, or a river spirit, or a rock spirit, or a person spirit?>>

George is sitting in the caern talking with Cricket "Exactly. Which means there's a city spirt, and even though no one's really gone looking for it before finding what's been lost and seeking what's hidden is kind of what the ragabash of my tribe do."

Amy Kerry arrives back to the Caern. It's important today, and she wanders on in, looking around to see where people are.

Cricket looks quite proud that she got the answer right, chest puffing up slightly before she gives a nod. <<The no-moon.>> she says, reaffirming her knowledge as she goes. <<Don't the no-moons also test the other moons?>> she asks.

George nods to Cricket and grins "That's why I've been asking you questions I know the answers to and I'm pretty sure you know the answers to. Because knowing the questions and seeing /how/ people answer is part of my job. That's why I'm working on my plan to go look for the City Mother, that's an answer I don't have."

Amy Kerry sees that Cricket is getting talked to, which makes her smile and nod, and come on over to take a seat and listen.

Cricket looks over at Amy and gives the woman a wag of her fluffy tail. Her clothes are on the gorund, dirty and a bit, uh, worse for wear. SOMEONE just left them on when changing forms. Oops. It's all good: George taught her how to get naked! <<The City Mother?>> The pup thinks on this, <<Is that the spirit that watches this City, or the spirit of all cities?>>

George smiles as he leans back on his hands and thinks, nodding hello to Amy before answering Cricket "Fair question and I was thinking about just looking for the spirit that watches over this city but higher up the chain of command might wind up being needful."

Amy Kerry waves to each, as she settles in with a place to sit, cupping her chin in her hand, elbow on her knee, listening.

<<One, then the other.>> Cricket muses, ears and body reflecting her thoughtfulness. >>I do not know if I could help.<< Her ears flopping to the sides a bit, disappointed. >>I have not had any instruction in dealing with Spirits.<<

George shrugs a little bit "I'm still working on the plan so I don't know what the mission's going to need. When it comes to the step where I'm looking for people to join in I'll let you know alright?"

Amy Kerry is content to listen but does speak up here. "That does sound like a very important trip." she says softly, nodding. "And Cricket I'm sure you'll get instruction on spirits soon. You do have a lot to learn."

A slow blink for George - if wolves could blush? She might be! >>I would be honored, but are you sure you would want me?<< She queries, looking to Amy and bobbing her head slightly. >>I have many teachers that share my moon.<<

George nods and grins "Thinking outside the usual way of doing things is also part of my job and I've learned that you never know what's going to come up useful."

Amy Kerry nods at George, head tilted a little, considering this. "I've been planning my own spiritual trips in the city, though not quite that... important. Well it if works out really well it could be, maybe, but probably not."

Cricket ducks her head and wriggles closer to George, displaying her gratitude for the chance, maybe, to help by licking at his hand, her tail tucked slightly to show the proper amount of submission.

George gestures for Amy to continue with one hand and giving Cricket head scritches with the other after it got licked "So what do you have planned, maybe we can make it work out better."

Amy Kerry tilts her head. "By the way, with all the fuss, I don't think we've properly met? Amy Kerry, Sings the body Electric, Glass Walkers." then she smiles and nods a little. "Well, I need to um, charge myself up, to generate enough spirit essence, build it up inside me to be able to offer it up properly, to build my Fetish of war and morale. And while I'm at it, I'm going to look around for possible lost caerns or caren possible locations. Not going to take stupid risks but.. I'mg oing to look."

Scritches are good, and Cricet indulges a bit before looking back to Amy, not really understanding this energy thing - yet. Most of her lessons of late have just been pushes to egt familiar with her forms and sit around the fires soaking up the stories of the kin and elders.

George nods to Amy and offers his own introduction in exchange "George Andrews, four times rited 'Mocks-the-Dark', 'Trains-the-Weak', 'Kills-in-Silence' and 'Render-of-Shadow'. Homid born Athro Ragabash of the Silent Striders Called Harmerti and Speaker to the Dead for the Remembrance and special blessings of my tribe. Scout, Thief and sniper for my skills. Wielder of the Fang of Anubis. Beta for the Misfits pack, servants of Peregrine." Then he ponders her quest "That's a good plan, the Island my pack protects was a caern a long time ago but it was abandoned for so long it'd need to be....reconsecrated. And its a little far out to sea to make defending it practical so we've just left it be."

Amy Kerry goes wide eyed just a moment as he introduces himself. Casual as she is, something that long, that formal, and that honored gets attention. She coughs, just a moment, and then smiles weakly. "Yeah, I've discussed it with Trekome some. Defending the rite for any urban caern would be difficult. But it would be worth doing I think. It's no terribly urgent thing but it can't hurt to have open eyes." Then she coughs agan, shifting a little in her seat, before laughing softly "So Cricket, have you..." She then looks around at the ground. "Have you been to the city yet?"

Cricket stares at George. Holy crap! That's like finding out the cool dude in line with you at the grocery store you haVe been talking with and have been shamelessly flirting up is some famous guy that saved the world! FOUR TIMES. Wide-eyed, awestruck, the pup just stares up at George until she is spoken to directly. <<No. I was told to stay away.>>

George is all dignified about their reactions though he can't help but wonder how they'd react if he got really fancy about it. Nodding to Cricket he adds "She needs to learn more about how to seem like a normal human before we put her up against observers who'd spot the differences as well as a native born would. I'll talk it over with Alecto and see what she thinks about arranging a trip to observe them. And I'll ask my Alpha about coming over to his cabin to watch some videos, maybe learn about human behavior some that way."

Amy Kerry nods very quickly. "Yeah. I'm not trying to rush or anything. I was just curious. It's so much to learn about. I was completely lost the first time I tried to interact with wolves."

>>It is a lot.<< Like washing those clothes. she'll have to ask some of the live-in kin about it. Kin aren't scary to approach like some of the older wolves can be. <<But I will do my best.>> she promises, eager to learn and soak up all the new things like a dry sponge. >>I have my littermates bringing their kills tot he elders' mates, 'Lectric.<< she adds. <<So they know what to do when they hunt.>>

Amy Kerry smiles to Cricket. "It's good you're teaching them. You learn, and you teach. It's hard, what you're having to do. But you're going to do a good job."

George nods and grins at Cricket "Sometimes that's the best way to learn something is to try and teach it to someone else. When you gather your thoughts to share them out it firms it up in your own mind to make you more sure of your knowledge."

Cricket drops her bottom jaw in a wolfish, tongue lolling grin. <<They are good hunters. Better than I am. But I am much better at tracking.>> finding game is the hardest part, too! >>I want to meet everyone, talk, think, learn...<< So eager.

George snickers and nods "They work together I bet, that's what makes them so good at taking down game. And that's what makes the Garou the best fighters of all of Gaia's children. There's never just one wolf in the fight."

Amy Kerry stretches a little, smiling still at Cricket, and then at George. "Yeah, that's so true. Hmm." She then pauses to purse her lips, and think. "Maybe I really need to find a Theurge who can help me with the rites for the fetish."

<<They do. We are stronger together.>> The pup yips, turning in a circle in her excitement before tangling limbs and faceplanting. <<What is a fetish?>>

George grins at Cricket and reaches around to his back and he draws out a bone handled knife with Egyptian symbols carved all over it "Its an object with a spirit added to it. This one is a fetish weapon fashioned in the tradition of my people called the Fang of Anubis."

Amy Kerry takes a moment to look at the weapon brought out, staring, nodding. Giving it a good look. "The one I'm trying to build will look different, but what he said is right. I will be building a weapon of war, that will help me, in my role as a Galliard, be outgoing, and encourage others in combat."

Weapons are still new ideas, and the cub hardly knows what this pointy thing is for. Approaching with skittish caution, she stretches her neck reeeeeally far to snif, then retreat, then sniff again, checking out the dagger.

George nods and shrugs, letting the knife be examined as he adds "They aren't all weapons, my poncho's a fetish but its most useful in the land of the dead. It makes it a lot harder for me to be hurt by ghosts or specters."

Amy Kerry nods, letting him explain, since she should be listening more to him anyway. "It's not easy to make one, it's important work. And the fetishes themselves are worthy of respect. They're important for the Garou, and the spirits inside them have earned it."

Cricket listens, nosing the dagger before retreating and sitting back down. <<All of the different spirits can be made into a fetish? A healing spirit? A sad spirit? A spirit for hunting?>> She chews on this idea before nodding. >>I should learn more of these.<<

George nods and ponders "There are some rare and dangerous fetishes made from banes, Using the power of the wyrm to hunt the wyrm. I don't hold with that myself but it is a thing, your Uktena friend probably knows a thing or three about that. Their tribe knows a lot of things about rare magic."

Amy Kerry nods. "I considered a Weaver spirit for my project. But I did a lot of study, and thought, and carefully have decided an electric elemental would be better. They like fetishes, and there's less risk of discord."

<<Xaviar has told me about them. Secrets keepers and chasers. He thinks what I want to do would fit nicely with them. Blackwolflady wants me to be a Fury. It's very confusing sometimes.>>

George nods to Cricket and considers "I'd worry more at this point about figuring out who you are and less about what others want you to be. Learn about the tribes too and then figure out which one is most like you are already."

Amy Kerry smiles and nods. "You don't have to rush. One day, one of the tribal guardian spirits may even send one of its own to you, to bring you in."

<<They DO that?>> Cricket asks, plopping her butt down and scratching at an ear before shaking her head til her ears flap. >>I was thinking of waiting until after I have my Rite and become a real wolf.<<

George nods and grins at Cricket "They do, and your Rite of Passage is where you make your choice so you kind of need to decide before then. Part of being a grownup wolf is making that declaration."

Amy Kerry smiles at Cricket, and begins to gesture a little crawly running, with two fingers. "It may not seem likely, but what if Cockroach saw something in you?" She laughs quietly, but then shakes her head. "I shouldn't laugh. It could happen.Cockroach could have all sorts of plans I can't even imagine, any of us."

Cricket chuffs a soft sound and then nods before looking to Amy, <<Cockroach? They taste funny.>> The pup says, not understanding the context.

George grins at Cricket "Cockroach is the patron spirit of the Glasswalkers, her Tribe. He and his children can survive even in the worst the cities have to offer."

Amy Kerry nods. "That's right. Each tribe has one. It's part of what makes us tribes. The White Howlers had Lion, a long time ago. But um. Yeah. Pay attention to your dreams. That would be a good way for a spirit to reach out to you."

<<Lion.>> Another tidbit of knowledge about the young cubs past. Or the past of her ancestors, at least. This precious piece of stored away, the cub going quiet a moment. >>If they come to me, I will listen.<< Cricket promises with a solemn tone.

George nods at Amy and says to Cricket "And if Owl comes flapping by come find me. That's my Tribe's totem." A runner comes up and taps George on the shoulder and he smiles apologetically "Looks like its lesson time for me, I'll see you to around." Then to the runner "Best not keep the rite mistress waiting."