Aviator's Log

Hello! I'm Avi, and I am multi fandom! My primary special interest is commercial aviation in general, and I'm happy you could join me at this terminal!

[enthusiasticaviator]

what part of aviation is most interesting to you?

Most interesting to me? That’s a good question! I really like learning the history of aviation and the logistics of airports. I also like to learn the stories behind aircraft, such as political motivations (aviation is really intertwined with history, it’s quite intriguing really), the history and logistics of airlines…etc. Really it shifts depending on exactly what captivates me in the moment, so I guess I just like commercial aviation in general! I’ll tell you what doesn’t interest me; military/private aviation. I like to learn history, and battles, but for whatever reason most military planes don’t interest me! If it’s commercial aviation, I’m all ears! Military? Meh.

[enthusiasticaviator]

EVERYONE PAUSE WHAT YOURE DOING

@coppernauts--week is about to get a whole lot better for the day one prompt because I think I just found Benny’s helmet!!!!!! According to the National Air and Space Museum, helmets like this one-the photos below-were used from 1982-1986 for launch and re-entry.

To quote directly from the website, “From 1982 to 1986, Space Shuttle astronauts wore this type of helmet with their unpressurized blue flight suits for launch and return from space. The helmet connected to an emergency oxygen supply but did not attach to the suit.” Now, I know that’s a lot of word vomit, but just hear me out. Are we going to ignore that the flight suits they wore were SPECIFICALLY blue, or that the helmet connected to an oxygen tank?? Let me remind you of what the precious blue boy looks like:

Above is an absolutely stunning gif of the man in question, Benjamin “Benny” Blue Chu The 1980-Something Spaceman. Let me tell you what ladies and gentlemen, I think I got the helmet dead to rights! Not only was it used in the 80s, on specifically blue flight suits, but it actively attached to an oxygen tank. Just. Like. BENNY’S. It’s actually perfect. And the coincidental cherry on top that perfectly tops my theory sundae? If you look at the NASA helmet, you’ll notice a band of helmet right under the visor. Looks a little…crackable, don’t you think? Like a certain toy company wanted to emulate it in their own brand but infamously made the helmets out of such brittle plastic the helmets would snap in that exact area while being played with. I rest my case.

[emmetverse]

⨳ Where is everyone..?

[enthusiasticaviator]

[Avi comes rushing into the house, emergency rolling behind her in tow. The place is absolutely destroyed, that much is for sure. Avi made a beeline for Cleric and wrapped him in a massive hug.]

I’m here sweet heart, I’m here. Are you hungry? I brought some treats specifically for you! Would you like to see?

[emmetverse]

[He stands in the hug. Not pulling away, not hugging back.]

⨳ ... I'm not hungry.

[enthusiasticaviator]

Ok. That’s perfectly fine. Would you like to help me tidy this place up? I know your grandma and grandpa aren’t the biggest fans of messes. I’m sure it’ll make them really happy!

[Avi was very obviously shaken by this, even if she was trying to put on her happiest face for Cleric. He could see the little feathers popping out of her neck. That wasn’t the only thing Avi brought with her. Over her left shoulder hung the strap of her satchel. Cleric could see into it from his little view, and it was chalked full of concoctions. She’s planning something.]

[emmetverse]

⨳ You can tidy. I'm helping Dad kill Arty.

[enthusiasticaviator]

When you do kill her, can you spit on her? For me? I’d like that a lot. I’ll clean this place up for yall. Then I’ll make sure your Grandma and Grandpa are as comfortable as they can be. I know how it feels to be in their positions. If they’re still awake in there, I don’t want them to feel alone.

[emmetverse]

[He stares at her for a little too long]

⨳ They're not alone. They have all of us.

[enthusiasticaviator]

Haha, yea, that’s very true Cleric. We won’t let them be alone in this. It’s just a very isolating thing, being cursed into a monster. Even if you’re surrounded by people who love you, it can still feel like you’re the only one going through something like their situation. I know how it feels to be cursed by Arty. I know how it feels to be changed into something you don’t recognize. I don’t want them to go through the same hurt I went through. That’s kinda what I meant by that.

[emmetverse]

⨳ ... You're weird.

[He leans back in to the hug.]

[enthusiasticaviator]

[Avi snorts]

Aren’t we all?

[emmetverse]

⨳ Maybe. At least I don't say everything in purple.

[enthusiasticaviator]

At least I didn’t keep all the books I promised I’d burn.

[emmetverse]

⨳ Where is everyone..?

[enthusiasticaviator]

[Avi comes rushing into the house, emergency rolling behind her in tow. The place is absolutely destroyed, that much is for sure. Avi made a beeline for Cleric and wrapped him in a massive hug.]

I’m here sweet heart, I’m here. Are you hungry? I brought some treats specifically for you! Would you like to see?

[emmetverse]

[He stands in the hug. Not pulling away, not hugging back.]

⨳ ... I'm not hungry.

[enthusiasticaviator]

Ok. That’s perfectly fine. Would you like to help me tidy this place up? I know your grandma and grandpa aren’t the biggest fans of messes. I’m sure it’ll make them really happy!

[Avi was very obviously shaken by this, even if she was trying to put on her happiest face for Cleric. He could see the little feathers popping out of her neck. That wasn’t the only thing Avi brought with her. Over her left shoulder hung the strap of her satchel. Cleric could see into it from his little view, and it was chalked full of concoctions. She’s planning something.]

[emmetverse]

⨳ You can tidy. I'm helping Dad kill Arty.

[enthusiasticaviator]

When you do kill her, can you spit on her? For me? I’d like that a lot. I’ll clean this place up for yall. Then I’ll make sure your Grandma and Grandpa are as comfortable as they can be. I know how it feels to be in their positions. If they’re still awake in there, I don’t want them to feel alone.

[emmetverse]

[He stares at her for a little too long]

⨳ They're not alone. They have all of us.

[enthusiasticaviator]

Haha, yea, that’s very true Cleric. We won’t let them be alone in this. It’s just a very isolating thing, being cursed into a monster. Even if you’re surrounded by people who love you, it can still feel like you’re the only one going through something like their situation. I know how it feels to be cursed by Arty. I know how it feels to be changed into something you don’t recognize. I don’t want them to go through the same hurt I went through. That’s kinda what I meant by that.

[emmetverse]

⨳ ... You're weird.

[He leans back in to the hug.]

[enthusiasticaviator]

[Avi snorts]

Aren’t we all?

[emmetverse]

⨳ Where is everyone..?

[enthusiasticaviator]

[Avi comes rushing into the house, emergency rolling behind her in tow. The place is absolutely destroyed, that much is for sure. Avi made a beeline for Cleric and wrapped him in a massive hug.]

I’m here sweet heart, I’m here. Are you hungry? I brought some treats specifically for you! Would you like to see?

[emmetverse]

[He stands in the hug. Not pulling away, not hugging back.]

⨳ ... I'm not hungry.

[enthusiasticaviator]

Ok. That’s perfectly fine. Would you like to help me tidy this place up? I know your grandma and grandpa aren’t the biggest fans of messes. I’m sure it’ll make them really happy!

[Avi was very obviously shaken by this, even if she was trying to put on her happiest face for Cleric. He could see the little feathers popping out of her neck. That wasn’t the only thing Avi brought with her. Over her left shoulder hung the strap of her satchel. Cleric could see into it from his little view, and it was chalked full of concoctions. She’s planning something.]

[emmetverse]

⨳ You can tidy. I'm helping Dad kill Arty.

[enthusiasticaviator]

When you do kill her, can you spit on her? For me? I’d like that a lot. I’ll clean this place up for yall. Then I’ll make sure your Grandma and Grandpa are as comfortable as they can be. I know how it feels to be in their positions. If they’re still awake in there, I don’t want them to feel alone.

[emmetverse]

[He stares at her for a little too long]

⨳ They're not alone. They have all of us.

[enthusiasticaviator]

Haha, yea, that’s very true Cleric. We won’t let them be alone in this. It’s just a very isolating thing, being cursed into a monster. Even if you’re surrounded by people who love you, it can still feel like you’re the only one going through something like their situation. I know how it feels to be cursed by Arty. I know how it feels to be changed into something you don’t recognize. I don’t want them to go through the same hurt I went through. That’s kinda what I meant by that.

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[Avi snuck out of the Copp residence, having slept on their couch intentionally for this. She stayed up till nearly dawn making sure the place was absolutely spotless, but now she had something else in mind. Secured snuggly against her waist was her satchel, and she opened it to retrieve a bottle of green liquid. Knowing it would be too much of a tell, Avi slipped off her satchel and dropped it into one of the backyard chairs. She had spent nearly an hour dragging them back to the porch the night before. But that wasn’t important right now. She turned her attention to the far end of the property, where the river was. Avi knew what she was about to do was dangerous, but she needed to know how they were doing. She figured that if she kept the right altitude, and the invisibility concoction worked the way it should, they wouldn’t even know she was above them. She just needed to know. Wanted to see if there was a chance she could speak with them, seeing as her curse was similar to theirs. She knew their misery all too well. If it wasn’t for Liam, she’d still be enduring it. Avi mentally slapped herself. She should’ve asked Liam for some feathers before he left! Depending on his parents condition, they might’ve been able to help. Oh well. Avi braced herself. Remember, only get what you absolutely need to know, and get out. The concoction only lasts twenty minutes. Stepping out into the grass, Avi willed her body to change. Large wings sprouted out from her back. With one final look at the home, Avi took a swing of her concoction and flew towards the river. Time to greet Ma and Pa.]

[It's almost impossible to tell which one is which- they're both a dull gray color with black specks in a sort of diamond pattern along their backs. One is almost completely submerged in the water, nursing an obvious injury, with the other patrolling the river's shore for any more potential danger- or maybe just some prey to share with their hurt mate. The one on the shore stops and sniffs- they can't see Avi, but they sure can smell her, and she smells like lunch.]

[enthusiasticaviator]

[Avi positioned herself in the direction the wind blew. She had read that kestrels specialized in wind-hovering, and had figured out how to pull off the trick herself. Being above the treeline, Avi guessed she was somewhere between 45-70 feet above them currently. It wasn’t lost on her that the one shore was sniffing around in her direction. They have a sense of smell, and a keen one, at that. Looks like they retained their affection for each other, too. This made Avi a little happy-some part of them is still awake in there. She’ll have to do a flight around later, around lunchtime. Drop them some fish, or maybe a cow. She can slather it with a healing ointment, which should help the injured one. Their mate is probably gonna give them a larger portion of any food she brings. Getting closer is almost absolutely a no-no, though. If they didn’t recognize Garrett or Liam, they can’t be all there. She’s got a good sixteen minutes left on the concoction, she’ll observe until about four then fly back. She doesn’t want them to know which direction the house is, being so close.]

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[The one that caught her scent flicks their tongue out, trying to pinpoint where the smell is coming from. They look up, and stretch themself further up from the ground, flicking their tongue out again. They've almost figured out where she's at. Fortunately for Avi, she is very much out of their reach. They turn away in disappointment and go back to searching for prey on the ground.]

[enthusiasticaviator]

[Avi watches with bated breath. She knows logically that they would have to be truly massive to reach her, but the sight of a giant sea serpent sniffing her out isn’t a pleasant one. Fear will only tip them off more, so she stifled it as best she could. She sighed in relief when it lowered itself down. Clearly, it thought she wouldn’t be worth the effort. So this is a safe height from them. Even if they truly weren’t themselves, Avi couldn’t help but feel a little bad for the snakes. The shore one looked so sad when it realized it couldn’t eat her-which Avi was grateful for-and knew it must be so hungry and worried for its partner. There isn’t much in the way of food for them here. She’s got twelve minutes left on her concoction. Maybe she should use those steaks she brought to feed them. Put it on a parachute and air drop it to them? She’ll wait to see if this one catches anything before committing to that idea.]

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[Sadly, no luck. Most of the wildlife had taken off in terror when they came crashing through the day before. Maybe a forgetful rabbit or squirrel here and there, but not much else. And the one attempting to hunt is clearly hesitant to leave their mate to find food elsewhere.]

[enthusiasticaviator]

[Eight minutes left. Avi starts to think about how she’s going to leave; fly higher in the opposite direction of the house, then loop back around and touchdown in the front yard. Sounds decent and doable enough. She felt absolutely terrible for the both of them, seeing how hard the patrolling one was trying to find food. Avi even started to debate whether she should go to a livestock show after giving them the steaks. Buy a few older cows, have them put out, then drop ‘em over for Ma and Pa. It’ll definitely be expensive, but they’re ten years in the past, so her money is worth more here. Maybe. Avi didn’t want to do the conversion. She watched the patrolling one closely, looking intently for any possible gender markers. Thicker tail, more muscular build, anything that a regular snake species would exhibit. It’s a tall ask, she knows that, but it isn’t exactly easy to compare and contrast them right now. She probably won’t get a good look at the injured one at all. Avi made a mental note to ask Ben how the Copps hurt the nursing one so she can properly dose the steaks.]

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[The injured one finally lifts their head out of the water and makes a sound to get their mate's attention. The other stops their hunt and moves to curl around them. Maybe if they're still for a while, a deer will turn up.]

[enthusiasticaviator]

[Ah! There’s the injured one! Avi tried to get a good look at the both of them and compare their heads. That’s a very good tell! Looks like the injured one wanted to cuddle with the patrolling one. They look pretty satisfied right now, so she should have time to make them food. Avi broke away from her holding position, and began to make the loop back to the house. As she ascended, she began to think of mixtures she could put into the steak to help them. She wants to see them stabilize at least somewhat, and hopefully that’ll tone down the aggression. Maybe, if she feeds them enough, she can build a terrarium to house them in and shrink them down for it. That’ll buy Copps a lot of time to kick The Artificer’s ass. But not this instant, at the least. Avi began her final approach right as the concoction wore off. She touched down on the driveway, willing her wings away when she slowed to a stop]

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[Benny waves at her from the door, holding the satchel she left sitting on a patio chair.]

Hey there! Looks like you had about the same idea I did!

[enthusiasticaviator]

Well, what can I say Ben? Great minds think alike. Wanna talk with me while I prep your in-laws lunch?

[Avi walked up to Benny. She was in a much better mood than when she had left, but the lingering concern was unmistakable in her eyes]

May I have my satchel, star boy?

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

You sure can, bird lady. [He hands it over.] So how are they faring?

[enthusiasticaviator]

[Avi trilled at him playfully, tucking the satchel under her arm. She walked into the home and made her way to the kitchen, pulling out a baking sheet. The satchel was set off to the side of it, and she pulled an injector from the countertop. Finally, she opened the freezer and put the steaks into the microwave to thaw.]

Not too bad, not too great. The two of them are together, and the injured one never left the river. The other one patrolled the river bed for a time, before the injured one called them over to snuggle. From what I observed they’re really not aggressive unless feeding or threatened. Jury’s still out on their mental state. We know it’s not great cause they didn’t recognize Copps, but considering they retained their love for each other they can’t be all gone. Haven’t been able to tell who’s who just yet, though.

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

At least they've retained that much of themselves... So the injury doesn't look too serious? At least from what you could see of it? Liam said he had to shoot at them to get free, and that he tried only to give minor injuries just to discourage them, but it is hard to aim when you're being attacked by something that wants to eat you. I think he was as shaken from having to hurt them as he was by the fact they didn't recognize him.

[enthusiasticaviator]

No where near enough to worry about it dying, but enough that it didn’t want to move at all. From what I could see. The hurt one never left the river.

[The microwave went off, and Avi pulled out the steaks. She cut open the packaging using a knife she found on the counter, then placed the four steaks onto the baking sheet. Whipping around, she went to the sink to wash her hands, using her elbows for everything instead of her hands. When she finished, Avi reached down and opened up a cabinet, pulling out a small bowl. It was then promptly placed next to her satchel, which she popped open and plucked concoctions out of.]

The only reason I wasn’t attacked myself was because I chose to hover above the tree line. The one on the bank sniffed me out almost as soon as I got there. I just know it’s absolutely tearing him up inside. And for his parents’ sakes, I hope they don’t remember that at all. It would break their hearts. …Hey, do you think I should include the clarity serum in the healing and vitality mix? I used to down that stuff all the time before Liam gave me his feather. I doubt it’ll do much, but less aggression when we get within striking range would be nice.

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[Benny watches as she works, taking a minute to think.]

It can't hurt to try, at least. If it works, then great, but if not, then at least we know. All things considered, this situation could be a lot worse. At least they managed to get themselves that far into the woods first, and at least no one is going to be out there bothering them, except us, and we know to take precautions.

[enthusiasticaviator]

You’re very right spaceman, it could be much worse. I think feeding them is going to become a necessity, though. I saw no large fauna anywhere near them, and with one injured the other isn’t going to leave. At their size, if nothing shows up they’re gonna swim up river or starve. Neither option is good. But even the steaks aren’t a long term solution. As aforementioned, they can swim through the river at any point. To keep them here and keep them safe, we have to give them a reason to stay or a place they can’t leave. So we either start looking into buying cows to satisfy them long term, or building a small enclosure that mimics the river so I can shrink ‘em down and put them in. I don’t see them making the long haul here otherwise.

[Avi curated her concoctions to Ben’s suggestion, and started to mix them one by one into the bowl. Everything she put in was edible, and beyond the herbal aroma the mixture had no tells. When she was satisfied with the brew, she stuck the injector in and started lacing the steaks with it.]

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

That is a good point... We weren't given any notice of how long this will last, or if it'll even wear off at all... I can take those if you're done with them. Given how clean the place is again, I don't imagine you got a lot of sleep last night.

[enthusiasticaviator]

I woke up at ten. If I remember correctly I went to bed at around four-ish. That’s a good six hours! More than I get most nights with my job. I can function on six. But I’ll need you coming with me anyway. Your anti-gravity abilities will make the drop off easy enough. You’re gonna need these.

[Avi holds out a pair of latex gloves and a shot glass full of green liquid. The invisibility concoction.]

Drink this before we take off, I’ll do the same. It’ll give us both a good twenty-five minutes. Follow me closely. When I leave, you leave. You’ll drop the meat when we get to the river, since you can make it float down to them. Then we’ll watch them feed and see if the steaks do anything. Think up some solutions while we’re at it. And if nothing else sticks: do not under any circumstances go below the tree line. I will not be able to save you if you do.

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[Benny accepts the gloves and the glass, but looks confused.]

Twenty-five minutes of what?

[enthusiasticaviator]

Invisibility. Don’t worry, you’ll still be able to see me while the concoction is in effect. It’s so that they don’t see us. They could feel threatened and get aggressive if they know we’re watching them, so it’s better for them to be vaguely aware of us and act naturally instead of on guard. Y’know?

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

Ohh, gotcha. Okay, ready when you are!

[enthusiasticaviator]

Alright then!

[Avi takes the steaks, and with a bit of looking finds a Tupperware container that can contain all four. The rectangular container looked easy enough to carry, and she opted not to place the lid on top for easier feeding. With that all done, she took the Tupperware and her own shot glass to the back porch. Wings once again sprouted from her back, and she motioned for Benny to come out with her.]

The glasses are plastic, so don’t feel bad about dropping them. Bottoms up, Ben.

[Avi chugged the liquid, and with a few great flaps she was off like a shot. For her size, she moved with shocking efficiency. Maybe it was just the nerves. Either way, they’ve got twenty-five minutes on the clock.]

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[Benny knocks back his share of the potion and pushes himself off the ground. He follows after Avi, though not as quickly as she's moving since he doesn't have his jetpack on him.]

[enthusiasticaviator]

[Avi reaches the river first, again angling herself into the wind to keep stationary above the water. She began to scan the landscape below, looking for any signs of the elderly serpents. The Tupperware held up surprisingly well at the speed she was going, and would be visible to the snakes below. When Benny gets close enough, she will pass it off to him and point him in the direction of the snakes, as he can get a lot more accurate than her.]

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[The two haven't moved much since she left them, still curled up together snoozing in the water.

Benny arrives a couple minutes later. He tilts his head in curiosity when he sees them.]

[enthusiasticaviator]

[As much as they were killer behemoths right now, Avi thought the two of them cuddled together is the most adorable thing she’s seen all day. Easily. Avi holds out the Tupperware for Benny to take.]

Remember, they have a great sense of smell. Just drop the steaks on the shore from above the trees and you’ll be fine. I’ll alert you if they stir.

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[Benny pulls the gloves on before he accepts the Tupperware and gives Avi a mock salute before slowly drifting closer to where Ma and Pa are napping. They don't seem to have noticed their company yet. One of them shifts in their sleep, and with their snout above the water, seems to have caught wind of those steaks. They lift their head fully out of the water to stare in confusion at the floating meat.

Benny takes that as his cue and drops the first steak. It's snarfed up as soon as it's in reach. The second is also summarily inhaled, then the serpent nudges their mate awake to feed them the rest. Once he's finished, Benny kicks his legs like he's swimming and floats back up above the trees to give Avi a thumbs up.]

[enthusiasticaviator]

[Avi salutes him back, scrunching up her face in a mock-serious manner. That scowl soon became serious, and Avi rubbed her eyes in frustration. The second he gets away from her, he disobeys and goes below the tree line. Does he want to die? Because what he’s doing right now is a death wish. When her eyes have been sufficiently rubbed red, Avi looked back up to see one of them lifting their head up. She gave a small whistle in Benny’s direction. At least she keeps her word. Avi watched as the first snarfed up all its food. It made her feel a bit of pride, knowing that even raw her food was good. Ease washed over her slightly when the first fed the second. So they both got an equal dose. She put some pretty potent stuff in those steaks, now was the time to watch closely for side effects. Avi reciprocated Benny’s thumbs up, and realized she had been holding her breath the whole time. That could be mostly chalked up to Benny floating his way into eating range, but either way she let out a long sigh. She really hoped that clarity serum would do something for them. If nothing else, take the edge off of whatever warped hellscape The Artificer turned their minds into.]

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[Avi snuck out of the Copp residence, having slept on their couch intentionally for this. She stayed up till nearly dawn making sure the place was absolutely spotless, but now she had something else in mind. Secured snuggly against her waist was her satchel, and she opened it to retrieve a bottle of green liquid. Knowing it would be too much of a tell, Avi slipped off her satchel and dropped it into one of the backyard chairs. She had spent nearly an hour dragging them back to the porch the night before. But that wasn’t important right now. She turned her attention to the far end of the property, where the river was. Avi knew what she was about to do was dangerous, but she needed to know how they were doing. She figured that if she kept the right altitude, and the invisibility concoction worked the way it should, they wouldn’t even know she was above them. She just needed to know. Wanted to see if there was a chance she could speak with them, seeing as her curse was similar to theirs. She knew their misery all too well. If it wasn’t for Liam, she’d still be enduring it. Avi mentally slapped herself. She should’ve asked Liam for some feathers before he left! Depending on his parents condition, they might’ve been able to help. Oh well. Avi braced herself. Remember, only get what you absolutely need to know, and get out. The concoction only lasts twenty minutes. Stepping out into the grass, Avi willed her body to change. Large wings sprouted out from her back. With one final look at the home, Avi took a swing of her concoction and flew towards the river. Time to greet Ma and Pa.]

[It's almost impossible to tell which one is which- they're both a dull gray color with black specks in a sort of diamond pattern along their backs. One is almost completely submerged in the water, nursing an obvious injury, with the other patrolling the river's shore for any more potential danger- or maybe just some prey to share with their hurt mate. The one on the shore stops and sniffs- they can't see Avi, but they sure can smell her, and she smells like lunch.]

[enthusiasticaviator]

[Avi positioned herself in the direction the wind blew. She had read that kestrels specialized in wind-hovering, and had figured out how to pull off the trick herself. Being above the treeline, Avi guessed she was somewhere between 45-70 feet above them currently. It wasn’t lost on her that the one shore was sniffing around in her direction. They have a sense of smell, and a keen one, at that. Looks like they retained their affection for each other, too. This made Avi a little happy-some part of them is still awake in there. She’ll have to do a flight around later, around lunchtime. Drop them some fish, or maybe a cow. She can slather it with a healing ointment, which should help the injured one. Their mate is probably gonna give them a larger portion of any food she brings. Getting closer is almost absolutely a no-no, though. If they didn’t recognize Garrett or Liam, they can’t be all there. She’s got a good sixteen minutes left on the concoction, she’ll observe until about four then fly back. She doesn’t want them to know which direction the house is, being so close.]

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[The one that caught her scent flicks their tongue out, trying to pinpoint where the smell is coming from. They look up, and stretch themself further up from the ground, flicking their tongue out again. They've almost figured out where she's at. Fortunately for Avi, she is very much out of their reach. They turn away in disappointment and go back to searching for prey on the ground.]

[enthusiasticaviator]

[Avi watches with bated breath. She knows logically that they would have to be truly massive to reach her, but the sight of a giant sea serpent sniffing her out isn’t a pleasant one. Fear will only tip them off more, so she stifled it as best she could. She sighed in relief when it lowered itself down. Clearly, it thought she wouldn’t be worth the effort. So this is a safe height from them. Even if they truly weren’t themselves, Avi couldn’t help but feel a little bad for the snakes. The shore one looked so sad when it realized it couldn’t eat her-which Avi was grateful for-and knew it must be so hungry and worried for its partner. There isn’t much in the way of food for them here. She’s got twelve minutes left on her concoction. Maybe she should use those steaks she brought to feed them. Put it on a parachute and air drop it to them? She’ll wait to see if this one catches anything before committing to that idea.]

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[Sadly, no luck. Most of the wildlife had taken off in terror when they came crashing through the day before. Maybe a forgetful rabbit or squirrel here and there, but not much else. And the one attempting to hunt is clearly hesitant to leave their mate to find food elsewhere.]

[enthusiasticaviator]

[Eight minutes left. Avi starts to think about how she’s going to leave; fly higher in the opposite direction of the house, then loop back around and touchdown in the front yard. Sounds decent and doable enough. She felt absolutely terrible for the both of them, seeing how hard the patrolling one was trying to find food. Avi even started to debate whether she should go to a livestock show after giving them the steaks. Buy a few older cows, have them put out, then drop ‘em over for Ma and Pa. It’ll definitely be expensive, but they’re ten years in the past, so her money is worth more here. Maybe. Avi didn’t want to do the conversion. She watched the patrolling one closely, looking intently for any possible gender markers. Thicker tail, more muscular build, anything that a regular snake species would exhibit. It’s a tall ask, she knows that, but it isn’t exactly easy to compare and contrast them right now. She probably won’t get a good look at the injured one at all. Avi made a mental note to ask Ben how the Copps hurt the nursing one so she can properly dose the steaks.]

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[The injured one finally lifts their head out of the water and makes a sound to get their mate's attention. The other stops their hunt and moves to curl around them. Maybe if they're still for a while, a deer will turn up.]

[enthusiasticaviator]

[Ah! There’s the injured one! Avi tried to get a good look at the both of them and compare their heads. That’s a very good tell! Looks like the injured one wanted to cuddle with the patrolling one. They look pretty satisfied right now, so she should have time to make them food. Avi broke away from her holding position, and began to make the loop back to the house. As she ascended, she began to think of mixtures she could put into the steak to help them. She wants to see them stabilize at least somewhat, and hopefully that’ll tone down the aggression. Maybe, if she feeds them enough, she can build a terrarium to house them in and shrink them down for it. That’ll buy Copps a lot of time to kick The Artificer’s ass. But not this instant, at the least. Avi began her final approach right as the concoction wore off. She touched down on the driveway, willing her wings away when she slowed to a stop]

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[Benny waves at her from the door, holding the satchel she left sitting on a patio chair.]

Hey there! Looks like you had about the same idea I did!

[enthusiasticaviator]

Well, what can I say Ben? Great minds think alike. Wanna talk with me while I prep your in-laws lunch?

[Avi walked up to Benny. She was in a much better mood than when she had left, but the lingering concern was unmistakable in her eyes]

May I have my satchel, star boy?

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

You sure can, bird lady. [He hands it over.] So how are they faring?

[enthusiasticaviator]

[Avi trilled at him playfully, tucking the satchel under her arm. She walked into the home and made her way to the kitchen, pulling out a baking sheet. The satchel was set off to the side of it, and she pulled an injector from the countertop. Finally, she opened the freezer and put the steaks into the microwave to thaw.]

Not too bad, not too great. The two of them are together, and the injured one never left the river. The other one patrolled the river bed for a time, before the injured one called them over to snuggle. From what I observed they’re really not aggressive unless feeding or threatened. Jury’s still out on their mental state. We know it’s not great cause they didn’t recognize Copps, but considering they retained their love for each other they can’t be all gone. Haven’t been able to tell who’s who just yet, though.

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

At least they've retained that much of themselves... So the injury doesn't look too serious? At least from what you could see of it? Liam said he had to shoot at them to get free, and that he tried only to give minor injuries just to discourage them, but it is hard to aim when you're being attacked by something that wants to eat you. I think he was as shaken from having to hurt them as he was by the fact they didn't recognize him.

[enthusiasticaviator]

No where near enough to worry about it dying, but enough that it didn’t want to move at all. From what I could see. The hurt one never left the river.

[The microwave went off, and Avi pulled out the steaks. She cut open the packaging using a knife she found on the counter, then placed the four steaks onto the baking sheet. Whipping around, she went to the sink to wash her hands, using her elbows for everything instead of her hands. When she finished, Avi reached down and opened up a cabinet, pulling out a small bowl. It was then promptly placed next to her satchel, which she popped open and plucked concoctions out of.]

The only reason I wasn’t attacked myself was because I chose to hover above the tree line. The one on the bank sniffed me out almost as soon as I got there. I just know it’s absolutely tearing him up inside. And for his parents’ sakes, I hope they don’t remember that at all. It would break their hearts. …Hey, do you think I should include the clarity serum in the healing and vitality mix? I used to down that stuff all the time before Liam gave me his feather. I doubt it’ll do much, but less aggression when we get within striking range would be nice.

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[Benny watches as she works, taking a minute to think.]

It can't hurt to try, at least. If it works, then great, but if not, then at least we know. All things considered, this situation could be a lot worse. At least they managed to get themselves that far into the woods first, and at least no one is going to be out there bothering them, except us, and we know to take precautions.

[enthusiasticaviator]

You’re very right spaceman, it could be much worse. I think feeding them is going to become a necessity, though. I saw no large fauna anywhere near them, and with one injured the other isn’t going to leave. At their size, if nothing shows up they’re gonna swim up river or starve. Neither option is good. But even the steaks aren’t a long term solution. As aforementioned, they can swim through the river at any point. To keep them here and keep them safe, we have to give them a reason to stay or a place they can’t leave. So we either start looking into buying cows to satisfy them long term, or building a small enclosure that mimics the river so I can shrink ‘em down and put them in. I don’t see them making the long haul here otherwise.

[Avi curated her concoctions to Ben’s suggestion, and started to mix them one by one into the bowl. Everything she put in was edible, and beyond the herbal aroma the mixture had no tells. When she was satisfied with the brew, she stuck the injector in and started lacing the steaks with it.]

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

That is a good point... We weren't given any notice of how long this will last, or if it'll even wear off at all... I can take those if you're done with them. Given how clean the place is again, I don't imagine you got a lot of sleep last night.

[enthusiasticaviator]

I woke up at ten. If I remember correctly I went to bed at around four-ish. That’s a good six hours! More than I get most nights with my job. I can function on six. But I’ll need you coming with me anyway. Your anti-gravity abilities will make the drop off easy enough. You’re gonna need these.

[Avi holds out a pair of latex gloves and a shot glass full of green liquid. The invisibility concoction.]

Drink this before we take off, I’ll do the same. It’ll give us both a good twenty-five minutes. Follow me closely. When I leave, you leave. You’ll drop the meat when we get to the river, since you can make it float down to them. Then we’ll watch them feed and see if the steaks do anything. Think up some solutions while we’re at it. And if nothing else sticks: do not under any circumstances go below the tree line. I will not be able to save you if you do.

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[Benny accepts the gloves and the glass, but looks confused.]

Twenty-five minutes of what?

[enthusiasticaviator]

Invisibility. Don’t worry, you’ll still be able to see me while the concoction is in effect. It’s so that they don’t see us. They could feel threatened and get aggressive if they know we’re watching them, so it’s better for them to be vaguely aware of us and act naturally instead of on guard. Y’know?

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

Ohh, gotcha. Okay, ready when you are!

[enthusiasticaviator]

Alright then!

[Avi takes the steaks, and with a bit of looking finds a Tupperware container that can contain all four. The rectangular container looked easy enough to carry, and she opted not to place the lid on top for easier feeding. With that all done, she took the Tupperware and her own shot glass to the back porch. Wings once again sprouted from her back, and she motioned for Benny to come out with her.]

The glasses are plastic, so don’t feel bad about dropping them. Bottoms up, Ben.

[Avi chugged the liquid, and with a few great flaps she was off like a shot. For her size, she moved with shocking efficiency. Maybe it was just the nerves. Either way, they’ve got twenty-five minutes on the clock.]

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[Benny knocks back his share of the potion and pushes himself off the ground. He follows after Avi, though not as quickly as she's moving since he doesn't have his jetpack on him.]

[enthusiasticaviator]

[Avi reaches the river first, again angling herself into the wind to keep stationary above the water. She began to scan the landscape below, looking for any signs of the elderly serpents. The Tupperware held up surprisingly well at the speed she was going, and would be visible to the snakes below. When Benny gets close enough, she will pass it off to him and point him in the direction of the snakes, as he can get a lot more accurate than her.]

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[The two haven't moved much since she left them, still curled up together snoozing in the water.

Benny arrives a couple minutes later. He tilts his head in curiosity when he sees them.]

[enthusiasticaviator]

[As much as they were killer behemoths right now, Avi thought the two of them cuddled together is the most adorable thing she’s seen all day. Easily. Avi holds out the Tupperware for Benny to take.]

Remember, they have a great sense of smell. Just drop the steaks on the shore from above the trees and you’ll be fine. I’ll alert you if they stir.

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[Avi snuck out of the Copp residence, having slept on their couch intentionally for this. She stayed up till nearly dawn making sure the place was absolutely spotless, but now she had something else in mind. Secured snuggly against her waist was her satchel, and she opened it to retrieve a bottle of green liquid. Knowing it would be too much of a tell, Avi slipped off her satchel and dropped it into one of the backyard chairs. She had spent nearly an hour dragging them back to the porch the night before. But that wasn’t important right now. She turned her attention to the far end of the property, where the river was. Avi knew what she was about to do was dangerous, but she needed to know how they were doing. She figured that if she kept the right altitude, and the invisibility concoction worked the way it should, they wouldn’t even know she was above them. She just needed to know. Wanted to see if there was a chance she could speak with them, seeing as her curse was similar to theirs. She knew their misery all too well. If it wasn’t for Liam, she’d still be enduring it. Avi mentally slapped herself. She should’ve asked Liam for some feathers before he left! Depending on his parents condition, they might’ve been able to help. Oh well. Avi braced herself. Remember, only get what you absolutely need to know, and get out. The concoction only lasts twenty minutes. Stepping out into the grass, Avi willed her body to change. Large wings sprouted out from her back. With one final look at the home, Avi took a swing of her concoction and flew towards the river. Time to greet Ma and Pa.]

[It's almost impossible to tell which one is which- they're both a dull gray color with black specks in a sort of diamond pattern along their backs. One is almost completely submerged in the water, nursing an obvious injury, with the other patrolling the river's shore for any more potential danger- or maybe just some prey to share with their hurt mate. The one on the shore stops and sniffs- they can't see Avi, but they sure can smell her, and she smells like lunch.]

[enthusiasticaviator]

[Avi positioned herself in the direction the wind blew. She had read that kestrels specialized in wind-hovering, and had figured out how to pull off the trick herself. Being above the treeline, Avi guessed she was somewhere between 45-70 feet above them currently. It wasn’t lost on her that the one shore was sniffing around in her direction. They have a sense of smell, and a keen one, at that. Looks like they retained their affection for each other, too. This made Avi a little happy-some part of them is still awake in there. She’ll have to do a flight around later, around lunchtime. Drop them some fish, or maybe a cow. She can slather it with a healing ointment, which should help the injured one. Their mate is probably gonna give them a larger portion of any food she brings. Getting closer is almost absolutely a no-no, though. If they didn’t recognize Garrett or Liam, they can’t be all there. She’s got a good sixteen minutes left on the concoction, she’ll observe until about four then fly back. She doesn’t want them to know which direction the house is, being so close.]

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[The one that caught her scent flicks their tongue out, trying to pinpoint where the smell is coming from. They look up, and stretch themself further up from the ground, flicking their tongue out again. They've almost figured out where she's at. Fortunately for Avi, she is very much out of their reach. They turn away in disappointment and go back to searching for prey on the ground.]

[enthusiasticaviator]

[Avi watches with bated breath. She knows logically that they would have to be truly massive to reach her, but the sight of a giant sea serpent sniffing her out isn’t a pleasant one. Fear will only tip them off more, so she stifled it as best she could. She sighed in relief when it lowered itself down. Clearly, it thought she wouldn’t be worth the effort. So this is a safe height from them. Even if they truly weren’t themselves, Avi couldn’t help but feel a little bad for the snakes. The shore one looked so sad when it realized it couldn’t eat her-which Avi was grateful for-and knew it must be so hungry and worried for its partner. There isn’t much in the way of food for them here. She’s got twelve minutes left on her concoction. Maybe she should use those steaks she brought to feed them. Put it on a parachute and air drop it to them? She’ll wait to see if this one catches anything before committing to that idea.]

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[Sadly, no luck. Most of the wildlife had taken off in terror when they came crashing through the day before. Maybe a forgetful rabbit or squirrel here and there, but not much else. And the one attempting to hunt is clearly hesitant to leave their mate to find food elsewhere.]

[enthusiasticaviator]

[Eight minutes left. Avi starts to think about how she’s going to leave; fly higher in the opposite direction of the house, then loop back around and touchdown in the front yard. Sounds decent and doable enough. She felt absolutely terrible for the both of them, seeing how hard the patrolling one was trying to find food. Avi even started to debate whether she should go to a livestock show after giving them the steaks. Buy a few older cows, have them put out, then drop ‘em over for Ma and Pa. It’ll definitely be expensive, but they’re ten years in the past, so her money is worth more here. Maybe. Avi didn’t want to do the conversion. She watched the patrolling one closely, looking intently for any possible gender markers. Thicker tail, more muscular build, anything that a regular snake species would exhibit. It’s a tall ask, she knows that, but it isn’t exactly easy to compare and contrast them right now. She probably won’t get a good look at the injured one at all. Avi made a mental note to ask Ben how the Copps hurt the nursing one so she can properly dose the steaks.]

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[The injured one finally lifts their head out of the water and makes a sound to get their mate's attention. The other stops their hunt and moves to curl around them. Maybe if they're still for a while, a deer will turn up.]

[enthusiasticaviator]

[Ah! There’s the injured one! Avi tried to get a good look at the both of them and compare their heads. That’s a very good tell! Looks like the injured one wanted to cuddle with the patrolling one. They look pretty satisfied right now, so she should have time to make them food. Avi broke away from her holding position, and began to make the loop back to the house. As she ascended, she began to think of mixtures she could put into the steak to help them. She wants to see them stabilize at least somewhat, and hopefully that’ll tone down the aggression. Maybe, if she feeds them enough, she can build a terrarium to house them in and shrink them down for it. That’ll buy Copps a lot of time to kick The Artificer’s ass. But not this instant, at the least. Avi began her final approach right as the concoction wore off. She touched down on the driveway, willing her wings away when she slowed to a stop]

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[Benny waves at her from the door, holding the satchel she left sitting on a patio chair.]

Hey there! Looks like you had about the same idea I did!

[enthusiasticaviator]

Well, what can I say Ben? Great minds think alike. Wanna talk with me while I prep your in-laws lunch?

[Avi walked up to Benny. She was in a much better mood than when she had left, but the lingering concern was unmistakable in her eyes]

May I have my satchel, star boy?

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

You sure can, bird lady. [He hands it over.] So how are they faring?

[enthusiasticaviator]

[Avi trilled at him playfully, tucking the satchel under her arm. She walked into the home and made her way to the kitchen, pulling out a baking sheet. The satchel was set off to the side of it, and she pulled an injector from the countertop. Finally, she opened the freezer and put the steaks into the microwave to thaw.]

Not too bad, not too great. The two of them are together, and the injured one never left the river. The other one patrolled the river bed for a time, before the injured one called them over to snuggle. From what I observed they’re really not aggressive unless feeding or threatened. Jury’s still out on their mental state. We know it’s not great cause they didn’t recognize Copps, but considering they retained their love for each other they can’t be all gone. Haven’t been able to tell who’s who just yet, though.

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

At least they've retained that much of themselves... So the injury doesn't look too serious? At least from what you could see of it? Liam said he had to shoot at them to get free, and that he tried only to give minor injuries just to discourage them, but it is hard to aim when you're being attacked by something that wants to eat you. I think he was as shaken from having to hurt them as he was by the fact they didn't recognize him.

[enthusiasticaviator]

No where near enough to worry about it dying, but enough that it didn’t want to move at all. From what I could see. The hurt one never left the river.

[The microwave went off, and Avi pulled out the steaks. She cut open the packaging using a knife she found on the counter, then placed the four steaks onto the baking sheet. Whipping around, she went to the sink to wash her hands, using her elbows for everything instead of her hands. When she finished, Avi reached down and opened up a cabinet, pulling out a small bowl. It was then promptly placed next to her satchel, which she popped open and plucked concoctions out of.]

The only reason I wasn’t attacked myself was because I chose to hover above the tree line. The one on the bank sniffed me out almost as soon as I got there. I just know it’s absolutely tearing him up inside. And for his parents’ sakes, I hope they don’t remember that at all. It would break their hearts. …Hey, do you think I should include the clarity serum in the healing and vitality mix? I used to down that stuff all the time before Liam gave me his feather. I doubt it’ll do much, but less aggression when we get within striking range would be nice.

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[Benny watches as she works, taking a minute to think.]

It can't hurt to try, at least. If it works, then great, but if not, then at least we know. All things considered, this situation could be a lot worse. At least they managed to get themselves that far into the woods first, and at least no one is going to be out there bothering them, except us, and we know to take precautions.

[enthusiasticaviator]

You’re very right spaceman, it could be much worse. I think feeding them is going to become a necessity, though. I saw no large fauna anywhere near them, and with one injured the other isn’t going to leave. At their size, if nothing shows up they’re gonna swim up river or starve. Neither option is good. But even the steaks aren’t a long term solution. As aforementioned, they can swim through the river at any point. To keep them here and keep them safe, we have to give them a reason to stay or a place they can’t leave. So we either start looking into buying cows to satisfy them long term, or building a small enclosure that mimics the river so I can shrink ‘em down and put them in. I don’t see them making the long haul here otherwise.

[Avi curated her concoctions to Ben’s suggestion, and started to mix them one by one into the bowl. Everything she put in was edible, and beyond the herbal aroma the mixture had no tells. When she was satisfied with the brew, she stuck the injector in and started lacing the steaks with it.]

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

That is a good point... We weren't given any notice of how long this will last, or if it'll even wear off at all... I can take those if you're done with them. Given how clean the place is again, I don't imagine you got a lot of sleep last night.

[enthusiasticaviator]

I woke up at ten. If I remember correctly I went to bed at around four-ish. That’s a good six hours! More than I get most nights with my job. I can function on six. But I’ll need you coming with me anyway. Your anti-gravity abilities will make the drop off easy enough. You’re gonna need these.

[Avi holds out a pair of latex gloves and a shot glass full of green liquid. The invisibility concoction.]

Drink this before we take off, I’ll do the same. It’ll give us both a good twenty-five minutes. Follow me closely. When I leave, you leave. You’ll drop the meat when we get to the river, since you can make it float down to them. Then we’ll watch them feed and see if the steaks do anything. Think up some solutions while we’re at it. And if nothing else sticks: do not under any circumstances go below the tree line. I will not be able to save you if you do.

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[Benny accepts the gloves and the glass, but looks confused.]

Twenty-five minutes of what?

[enthusiasticaviator]

Invisibility. Don’t worry, you’ll still be able to see me while the concoction is in effect. It’s so that they don’t see us. They could feel threatened and get aggressive if they know we’re watching them, so it’s better for them to be vaguely aware of us and act naturally instead of on guard. Y’know?

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

Ohh, gotcha. Okay, ready when you are!

[enthusiasticaviator]

Alright then!

[Avi takes the steaks, and with a bit of looking finds a Tupperware container that can contain all four. The rectangular container looked easy enough to carry, and she opted not to place the lid on top for easier feeding. With that all done, she took the Tupperware and her own shot glass to the back porch. Wings once again sprouted from her back, and she motioned for Benny to come out with her.]

The glasses are plastic, so don’t feel bad about dropping them. Bottoms up, Ben.

[Avi chugged the liquid, and with a few great flaps she was off like a shot. For her size, she moved with shocking efficiency. Maybe it was just the nerves. Either way, they’ve got twenty-five minutes on the clock.]

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[Benny knocks back his share of the potion and pushes himself off the ground. He follows after Avi, though not as quickly as she's moving since he doesn't have his jetpack on him.]

[enthusiasticaviator]

[Avi reaches the river first, again angling herself into the wind to keep stationary above the water. She began to scan the landscape below, looking for any signs of the elderly serpents. The Tupperware held up surprisingly well at the speed she was going, and would be visible to the snakes below. When Benny gets close enough, she will pass it off to him and point him in the direction of the snakes, as he can get a lot more accurate than her.]

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[Avi snuck out of the Copp residence, having slept on their couch intentionally for this. She stayed up till nearly dawn making sure the place was absolutely spotless, but now she had something else in mind. Secured snuggly against her waist was her satchel, and she opened it to retrieve a bottle of green liquid. Knowing it would be too much of a tell, Avi slipped off her satchel and dropped it into one of the backyard chairs. She had spent nearly an hour dragging them back to the porch the night before. But that wasn’t important right now. She turned her attention to the far end of the property, where the river was. Avi knew what she was about to do was dangerous, but she needed to know how they were doing. She figured that if she kept the right altitude, and the invisibility concoction worked the way it should, they wouldn’t even know she was above them. She just needed to know. Wanted to see if there was a chance she could speak with them, seeing as her curse was similar to theirs. She knew their misery all too well. If it wasn’t for Liam, she’d still be enduring it. Avi mentally slapped herself. She should’ve asked Liam for some feathers before he left! Depending on his parents condition, they might’ve been able to help. Oh well. Avi braced herself. Remember, only get what you absolutely need to know, and get out. The concoction only lasts twenty minutes. Stepping out into the grass, Avi willed her body to change. Large wings sprouted out from her back. With one final look at the home, Avi took a swing of her concoction and flew towards the river. Time to greet Ma and Pa.]

[It's almost impossible to tell which one is which- they're both a dull gray color with black specks in a sort of diamond pattern along their backs. One is almost completely submerged in the water, nursing an obvious injury, with the other patrolling the river's shore for any more potential danger- or maybe just some prey to share with their hurt mate. The one on the shore stops and sniffs- they can't see Avi, but they sure can smell her, and she smells like lunch.]

[enthusiasticaviator]

[Avi positioned herself in the direction the wind blew. She had read that kestrels specialized in wind-hovering, and had figured out how to pull off the trick herself. Being above the treeline, Avi guessed she was somewhere between 45-70 feet above them currently. It wasn’t lost on her that the one shore was sniffing around in her direction. They have a sense of smell, and a keen one, at that. Looks like they retained their affection for each other, too. This made Avi a little happy-some part of them is still awake in there. She’ll have to do a flight around later, around lunchtime. Drop them some fish, or maybe a cow. She can slather it with a healing ointment, which should help the injured one. Their mate is probably gonna give them a larger portion of any food she brings. Getting closer is almost absolutely a no-no, though. If they didn’t recognize Garrett or Liam, they can’t be all there. She’s got a good sixteen minutes left on the concoction, she’ll observe until about four then fly back. She doesn’t want them to know which direction the house is, being so close.]

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[The one that caught her scent flicks their tongue out, trying to pinpoint where the smell is coming from. They look up, and stretch themself further up from the ground, flicking their tongue out again. They've almost figured out where she's at. Fortunately for Avi, she is very much out of their reach. They turn away in disappointment and go back to searching for prey on the ground.]

[enthusiasticaviator]

[Avi watches with bated breath. She knows logically that they would have to be truly massive to reach her, but the sight of a giant sea serpent sniffing her out isn’t a pleasant one. Fear will only tip them off more, so she stifled it as best she could. She sighed in relief when it lowered itself down. Clearly, it thought she wouldn’t be worth the effort. So this is a safe height from them. Even if they truly weren’t themselves, Avi couldn’t help but feel a little bad for the snakes. The shore one looked so sad when it realized it couldn’t eat her-which Avi was grateful for-and knew it must be so hungry and worried for its partner. There isn’t much in the way of food for them here. She’s got twelve minutes left on her concoction. Maybe she should use those steaks she brought to feed them. Put it on a parachute and air drop it to them? She’ll wait to see if this one catches anything before committing to that idea.]

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[Sadly, no luck. Most of the wildlife had taken off in terror when they came crashing through the day before. Maybe a forgetful rabbit or squirrel here and there, but not much else. And the one attempting to hunt is clearly hesitant to leave their mate to find food elsewhere.]

[enthusiasticaviator]

[Eight minutes left. Avi starts to think about how she’s going to leave; fly higher in the opposite direction of the house, then loop back around and touchdown in the front yard. Sounds decent and doable enough. She felt absolutely terrible for the both of them, seeing how hard the patrolling one was trying to find food. Avi even started to debate whether she should go to a livestock show after giving them the steaks. Buy a few older cows, have them put out, then drop ‘em over for Ma and Pa. It’ll definitely be expensive, but they’re ten years in the past, so her money is worth more here. Maybe. Avi didn’t want to do the conversion. She watched the patrolling one closely, looking intently for any possible gender markers. Thicker tail, more muscular build, anything that a regular snake species would exhibit. It’s a tall ask, she knows that, but it isn’t exactly easy to compare and contrast them right now. She probably won’t get a good look at the injured one at all. Avi made a mental note to ask Ben how the Copps hurt the nursing one so she can properly dose the steaks.]

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[The injured one finally lifts their head out of the water and makes a sound to get their mate's attention. The other stops their hunt and moves to curl around them. Maybe if they're still for a while, a deer will turn up.]

[enthusiasticaviator]

[Ah! There’s the injured one! Avi tried to get a good look at the both of them and compare their heads. That’s a very good tell! Looks like the injured one wanted to cuddle with the patrolling one. They look pretty satisfied right now, so she should have time to make them food. Avi broke away from her holding position, and began to make the loop back to the house. As she ascended, she began to think of mixtures she could put into the steak to help them. She wants to see them stabilize at least somewhat, and hopefully that’ll tone down the aggression. Maybe, if she feeds them enough, she can build a terrarium to house them in and shrink them down for it. That’ll buy Copps a lot of time to kick The Artificer’s ass. But not this instant, at the least. Avi began her final approach right as the concoction wore off. She touched down on the driveway, willing her wings away when she slowed to a stop]

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[Benny waves at her from the door, holding the satchel she left sitting on a patio chair.]

Hey there! Looks like you had about the same idea I did!

[enthusiasticaviator]

Well, what can I say Ben? Great minds think alike. Wanna talk with me while I prep your in-laws lunch?

[Avi walked up to Benny. She was in a much better mood than when she had left, but the lingering concern was unmistakable in her eyes]

May I have my satchel, star boy?

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

You sure can, bird lady. [He hands it over.] So how are they faring?

[enthusiasticaviator]

[Avi trilled at him playfully, tucking the satchel under her arm. She walked into the home and made her way to the kitchen, pulling out a baking sheet. The satchel was set off to the side of it, and she pulled an injector from the countertop. Finally, she opened the freezer and put the steaks into the microwave to thaw.]

Not too bad, not too great. The two of them are together, and the injured one never left the river. The other one patrolled the river bed for a time, before the injured one called them over to snuggle. From what I observed they’re really not aggressive unless feeding or threatened. Jury’s still out on their mental state. We know it’s not great cause they didn’t recognize Copps, but considering they retained their love for each other they can’t be all gone. Haven’t been able to tell who’s who just yet, though.

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

At least they've retained that much of themselves... So the injury doesn't look too serious? At least from what you could see of it? Liam said he had to shoot at them to get free, and that he tried only to give minor injuries just to discourage them, but it is hard to aim when you're being attacked by something that wants to eat you. I think he was as shaken from having to hurt them as he was by the fact they didn't recognize him.

[enthusiasticaviator]

No where near enough to worry about it dying, but enough that it didn’t want to move at all. From what I could see. The hurt one never left the river.

[The microwave went off, and Avi pulled out the steaks. She cut open the packaging using a knife she found on the counter, then placed the four steaks onto the baking sheet. Whipping around, she went to the sink to wash her hands, using her elbows for everything instead of her hands. When she finished, Avi reached down and opened up a cabinet, pulling out a small bowl. It was then promptly placed next to her satchel, which she popped open and plucked concoctions out of.]

The only reason I wasn’t attacked myself was because I chose to hover above the tree line. The one on the bank sniffed me out almost as soon as I got there. I just know it’s absolutely tearing him up inside. And for his parents’ sakes, I hope they don’t remember that at all. It would break their hearts. …Hey, do you think I should include the clarity serum in the healing and vitality mix? I used to down that stuff all the time before Liam gave me his feather. I doubt it’ll do much, but less aggression when we get within striking range would be nice.

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[Benny watches as she works, taking a minute to think.]

It can't hurt to try, at least. If it works, then great, but if not, then at least we know. All things considered, this situation could be a lot worse. At least they managed to get themselves that far into the woods first, and at least no one is going to be out there bothering them, except us, and we know to take precautions.

[enthusiasticaviator]

You’re very right spaceman, it could be much worse. I think feeding them is going to become a necessity, though. I saw no large fauna anywhere near them, and with one injured the other isn’t going to leave. At their size, if nothing shows up they’re gonna swim up river or starve. Neither option is good. But even the steaks aren’t a long term solution. As aforementioned, they can swim through the river at any point. To keep them here and keep them safe, we have to give them a reason to stay or a place they can’t leave. So we either start looking into buying cows to satisfy them long term, or building a small enclosure that mimics the river so I can shrink ‘em down and put them in. I don’t see them making the long haul here otherwise.

[Avi curated her concoctions to Ben’s suggestion, and started to mix them one by one into the bowl. Everything she put in was edible, and beyond the herbal aroma the mixture had no tells. When she was satisfied with the brew, she stuck the injector in and started lacing the steaks with it.]

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

That is a good point... We weren't given any notice of how long this will last, or if it'll even wear off at all... I can take those if you're done with them. Given how clean the place is again, I don't imagine you got a lot of sleep last night.

[enthusiasticaviator]

I woke up at ten. If I remember correctly I went to bed at around four-ish. That’s a good six hours! More than I get most nights with my job. I can function on six. But I’ll need you coming with me anyway. Your anti-gravity abilities will make the drop off easy enough. You’re gonna need these.

[Avi holds out a pair of latex gloves and a shot glass full of green liquid. The invisibility concoction.]

Drink this before we take off, I’ll do the same. It’ll give us both a good twenty-five minutes. Follow me closely. When I leave, you leave. You’ll drop the meat when we get to the river, since you can make it float down to them. Then we’ll watch them feed and see if the steaks do anything. Think up some solutions while we’re at it. And if nothing else sticks: do not under any circumstances go below the tree line. I will not be able to save you if you do.

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[Benny accepts the gloves and the glass, but looks confused.]

Twenty-five minutes of what?

[enthusiasticaviator]

Invisibility. Don’t worry, you’ll still be able to see me while the concoction is in effect. It’s so that they don’t see us. They could feel threatened and get aggressive if they know we’re watching them, so it’s better for them to be vaguely aware of us and act naturally instead of on guard. Y’know?

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

Ohh, gotcha. Okay, ready when you are!

[enthusiasticaviator]

Alright then!

[Avi takes the steaks, and with a bit of looking finds a Tupperware container that can contain all four. The rectangular container looked easy enough to carry, and she opted not to place the lid on top for easier feeding. With that all done, she took the Tupperware and her own shot glass to the back porch. Wings once again sprouted from her back, and she motioned for Benny to come out with her.]

The glasses are plastic, so don’t feel bad about dropping them. Bottoms up, Ben.

[Avi chugged the liquid, and with a few great flaps she was off like a shot. For her size, she moved with shocking efficiency. Maybe it was just the nerves. Either way, they’ve got twenty-five minutes on the clock.]

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[Avi snuck out of the Copp residence, having slept on their couch intentionally for this. She stayed up till nearly dawn making sure the place was absolutely spotless, but now she had something else in mind. Secured snuggly against her waist was her satchel, and she opened it to retrieve a bottle of green liquid. Knowing it would be too much of a tell, Avi slipped off her satchel and dropped it into one of the backyard chairs. She had spent nearly an hour dragging them back to the porch the night before. But that wasn’t important right now. She turned her attention to the far end of the property, where the river was. Avi knew what she was about to do was dangerous, but she needed to know how they were doing. She figured that if she kept the right altitude, and the invisibility concoction worked the way it should, they wouldn’t even know she was above them. She just needed to know. Wanted to see if there was a chance she could speak with them, seeing as her curse was similar to theirs. She knew their misery all too well. If it wasn’t for Liam, she’d still be enduring it. Avi mentally slapped herself. She should’ve asked Liam for some feathers before he left! Depending on his parents condition, they might’ve been able to help. Oh well. Avi braced herself. Remember, only get what you absolutely need to know, and get out. The concoction only lasts twenty minutes. Stepping out into the grass, Avi willed her body to change. Large wings sprouted out from her back. With one final look at the home, Avi took a swing of her concoction and flew towards the river. Time to greet Ma and Pa.]

[It's almost impossible to tell which one is which- they're both a dull gray color with black specks in a sort of diamond pattern along their backs. One is almost completely submerged in the water, nursing an obvious injury, with the other patrolling the river's shore for any more potential danger- or maybe just some prey to share with their hurt mate. The one on the shore stops and sniffs- they can't see Avi, but they sure can smell her, and she smells like lunch.]

[enthusiasticaviator]

[Avi positioned herself in the direction the wind blew. She had read that kestrels specialized in wind-hovering, and had figured out how to pull off the trick herself. Being above the treeline, Avi guessed she was somewhere between 45-70 feet above them currently. It wasn’t lost on her that the one shore was sniffing around in her direction. They have a sense of smell, and a keen one, at that. Looks like they retained their affection for each other, too. This made Avi a little happy-some part of them is still awake in there. She’ll have to do a flight around later, around lunchtime. Drop them some fish, or maybe a cow. She can slather it with a healing ointment, which should help the injured one. Their mate is probably gonna give them a larger portion of any food she brings. Getting closer is almost absolutely a no-no, though. If they didn’t recognize Garrett or Liam, they can’t be all there. She’s got a good sixteen minutes left on the concoction, she’ll observe until about four then fly back. She doesn’t want them to know which direction the house is, being so close.]

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[The one that caught her scent flicks their tongue out, trying to pinpoint where the smell is coming from. They look up, and stretch themself further up from the ground, flicking their tongue out again. They've almost figured out where she's at. Fortunately for Avi, she is very much out of their reach. They turn away in disappointment and go back to searching for prey on the ground.]

[enthusiasticaviator]

[Avi watches with bated breath. She knows logically that they would have to be truly massive to reach her, but the sight of a giant sea serpent sniffing her out isn’t a pleasant one. Fear will only tip them off more, so she stifled it as best she could. She sighed in relief when it lowered itself down. Clearly, it thought she wouldn’t be worth the effort. So this is a safe height from them. Even if they truly weren’t themselves, Avi couldn’t help but feel a little bad for the snakes. The shore one looked so sad when it realized it couldn’t eat her-which Avi was grateful for-and knew it must be so hungry and worried for its partner. There isn’t much in the way of food for them here. She’s got twelve minutes left on her concoction. Maybe she should use those steaks she brought to feed them. Put it on a parachute and air drop it to them? She’ll wait to see if this one catches anything before committing to that idea.]

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[Sadly, no luck. Most of the wildlife had taken off in terror when they came crashing through the day before. Maybe a forgetful rabbit or squirrel here and there, but not much else. And the one attempting to hunt is clearly hesitant to leave their mate to find food elsewhere.]

[enthusiasticaviator]

[Eight minutes left. Avi starts to think about how she’s going to leave; fly higher in the opposite direction of the house, then loop back around and touchdown in the front yard. Sounds decent and doable enough. She felt absolutely terrible for the both of them, seeing how hard the patrolling one was trying to find food. Avi even started to debate whether she should go to a livestock show after giving them the steaks. Buy a few older cows, have them put out, then drop ‘em over for Ma and Pa. It’ll definitely be expensive, but they’re ten years in the past, so her money is worth more here. Maybe. Avi didn’t want to do the conversion. She watched the patrolling one closely, looking intently for any possible gender markers. Thicker tail, more muscular build, anything that a regular snake species would exhibit. It’s a tall ask, she knows that, but it isn’t exactly easy to compare and contrast them right now. She probably won’t get a good look at the injured one at all. Avi made a mental note to ask Ben how the Copps hurt the nursing one so she can properly dose the steaks.]

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[The injured one finally lifts their head out of the water and makes a sound to get their mate's attention. The other stops their hunt and moves to curl around them. Maybe if they're still for a while, a deer will turn up.]

[enthusiasticaviator]

[Ah! There’s the injured one! Avi tried to get a good look at the both of them and compare their heads. That’s a very good tell! Looks like the injured one wanted to cuddle with the patrolling one. They look pretty satisfied right now, so she should have time to make them food. Avi broke away from her holding position, and began to make the loop back to the house. As she ascended, she began to think of mixtures she could put into the steak to help them. She wants to see them stabilize at least somewhat, and hopefully that’ll tone down the aggression. Maybe, if she feeds them enough, she can build a terrarium to house them in and shrink them down for it. That’ll buy Copps a lot of time to kick The Artificer’s ass. But not this instant, at the least. Avi began her final approach right as the concoction wore off. She touched down on the driveway, willing her wings away when she slowed to a stop]

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[Benny waves at her from the door, holding the satchel she left sitting on a patio chair.]

Hey there! Looks like you had about the same idea I did!

[enthusiasticaviator]

Well, what can I say Ben? Great minds think alike. Wanna talk with me while I prep your in-laws lunch?

[Avi walked up to Benny. She was in a much better mood than when she had left, but the lingering concern was unmistakable in her eyes]

May I have my satchel, star boy?

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

You sure can, bird lady. [He hands it over.] So how are they faring?

[enthusiasticaviator]

[Avi trilled at him playfully, tucking the satchel under her arm. She walked into the home and made her way to the kitchen, pulling out a baking sheet. The satchel was set off to the side of it, and she pulled an injector from the countertop. Finally, she opened the freezer and put the steaks into the microwave to thaw.]

Not too bad, not too great. The two of them are together, and the injured one never left the river. The other one patrolled the river bed for a time, before the injured one called them over to snuggle. From what I observed they’re really not aggressive unless feeding or threatened. Jury’s still out on their mental state. We know it’s not great cause they didn’t recognize Copps, but considering they retained their love for each other they can’t be all gone. Haven’t been able to tell who’s who just yet, though.

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

At least they've retained that much of themselves... So the injury doesn't look too serious? At least from what you could see of it? Liam said he had to shoot at them to get free, and that he tried only to give minor injuries just to discourage them, but it is hard to aim when you're being attacked by something that wants to eat you. I think he was as shaken from having to hurt them as he was by the fact they didn't recognize him.

[enthusiasticaviator]

No where near enough to worry about it dying, but enough that it didn’t want to move at all. From what I could see. The hurt one never left the river.

[The microwave went off, and Avi pulled out the steaks. She cut open the packaging using a knife she found on the counter, then placed the four steaks onto the baking sheet. Whipping around, she went to the sink to wash her hands, using her elbows for everything instead of her hands. When she finished, Avi reached down and opened up a cabinet, pulling out a small bowl. It was then promptly placed next to her satchel, which she popped open and plucked concoctions out of.]

The only reason I wasn’t attacked myself was because I chose to hover above the tree line. The one on the bank sniffed me out almost as soon as I got there. I just know it’s absolutely tearing him up inside. And for his parents’ sakes, I hope they don’t remember that at all. It would break their hearts. …Hey, do you think I should include the clarity serum in the healing and vitality mix? I used to down that stuff all the time before Liam gave me his feather. I doubt it’ll do much, but less aggression when we get within striking range would be nice.

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[Benny watches as she works, taking a minute to think.]

It can't hurt to try, at least. If it works, then great, but if not, then at least we know. All things considered, this situation could be a lot worse. At least they managed to get themselves that far into the woods first, and at least no one is going to be out there bothering them, except us, and we know to take precautions.

[enthusiasticaviator]

You’re very right spaceman, it could be much worse. I think feeding them is going to become a necessity, though. I saw no large fauna anywhere near them, and with one injured the other isn’t going to leave. At their size, if nothing shows up they’re gonna swim up river or starve. Neither option is good. But even the steaks aren’t a long term solution. As aforementioned, they can swim through the river at any point. To keep them here and keep them safe, we have to give them a reason to stay or a place they can’t leave. So we either start looking into buying cows to satisfy them long term, or building a small enclosure that mimics the river so I can shrink ‘em down and put them in. I don’t see them making the long haul here otherwise.

[Avi curated her concoctions to Ben’s suggestion, and started to mix them one by one into the bowl. Everything she put in was edible, and beyond the herbal aroma the mixture had no tells. When she was satisfied with the brew, she stuck the injector in and started lacing the steaks with it.]

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

That is a good point... We weren't given any notice of how long this will last, or if it'll even wear off at all... I can take those if you're done with them. Given how clean the place is again, I don't imagine you got a lot of sleep last night.

[enthusiasticaviator]

I woke up at ten. If I remember correctly I went to bed at around four-ish. That’s a good six hours! More than I get most nights with my job. I can function on six. But I’ll need you coming with me anyway. Your anti-gravity abilities will make the drop off easy enough. You’re gonna need these.

[Avi holds out a pair of latex gloves and a shot glass full of green liquid. The invisibility concoction.]

Drink this before we take off, I’ll do the same. It’ll give us both a good twenty-five minutes. Follow me closely. When I leave, you leave. You’ll drop the meat when we get to the river, since you can make it float down to them. Then we’ll watch them feed and see if the steaks do anything. Think up some solutions while we’re at it. And if nothing else sticks: do not under any circumstances go below the tree line. I will not be able to save you if you do.

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[Benny accepts the gloves and the glass, but looks confused.]

Twenty-five minutes of what?

[enthusiasticaviator]

Invisibility. Don’t worry, you’ll still be able to see me while the concoction is in effect. It’s so that they don’t see us. They could feel threatened and get aggressive if they know we’re watching them, so it’s better for them to be vaguely aware of us and act naturally instead of on guard. Y’know?

[jeminy3]

gemsona au where gcbc is basically garnet

tried to mimic the SU style a bit

[jeminy3]

new ruby/sapphire episode = good excuse to doodle my gemcops again

[t-i-g-g-s]

Kiss him, he’s irish

Doodle from the Discord!

[foureoreos]

Guys this has EVERY LEGO Movie in it and I love it.

[enthusiasticaviator]

I HAVE TO REBLOG THIS I AM THE PLANE BLOG

[lets-talk-about-gcbc]

I once had this idea ..

of a sort of robo-GCBC..

because you know…robo-cop?…

he used to be a normal cop… but he had a horrible accident. THE MASTER BUILDERS TRIED TO KILL HIM!!  or at least.. that’s what he remembers.

and yes, it was lord business who saved his life… (he now had robot hands and legs … and a helmet that shouldnt be removed… but he was alive, and that was what mattered) …and so he was loyal to him. (… did business messed a bit with his mind? who knows)

so yeah… I once has this idea

and I tried to draw it

but then I realized he kinda looked like a combination of robocop with thomas from daft punk…

wait what

[awayan]

what if everyone is robots/ thinly veiled transformers au but mostly just general robots

the lil construction bot that could

Read More

[pretty-little-magnolia]

This is almost as close to the au I’ve been developing in my mushy brain for a while. There are still humans around but they’re not born naturally anymore, they’re grown in capsuls. They pretty much abandonned some of past human cultures (religion, history, art, etc) mostly anything that stems creativity and thought. Emmet have some cyborg parts but his brain is still made of flesh, something most humans have replaced it with advanced computers. Oh gosh I’m rambling too much!

[awayan]

sci-fi au!!!!!

there’s so many ways to do this kind of thing. my only worry is accidentally copy a thing from subconscious liking aka plagiarism. because man. I was like let’s do this and that until I realized I had recreated the plot of the matrix…. which is really embarrassing for me. 

but basically i just want robots. gosh is that so much to ask for. robots. like what if emmet was robot and wyldstyle was human. and then it’s like. a robot can’t be the special!!! they don’t have a soul/free will. robots attempting humanity. 

i’m gonna try and draw some robots now.

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[Avi snuck out of the Copp residence, having slept on their couch intentionally for this. She stayed up till nearly dawn making sure the place was absolutely spotless, but now she had something else in mind. Secured snuggly against her waist was her satchel, and she opened it to retrieve a bottle of green liquid. Knowing it would be too much of a tell, Avi slipped off her satchel and dropped it into one of the backyard chairs. She had spent nearly an hour dragging them back to the porch the night before. But that wasn’t important right now. She turned her attention to the far end of the property, where the river was. Avi knew what she was about to do was dangerous, but she needed to know how they were doing. She figured that if she kept the right altitude, and the invisibility concoction worked the way it should, they wouldn’t even know she was above them. She just needed to know. Wanted to see if there was a chance she could speak with them, seeing as her curse was similar to theirs. She knew their misery all too well. If it wasn’t for Liam, she’d still be enduring it. Avi mentally slapped herself. She should’ve asked Liam for some feathers before he left! Depending on his parents condition, they might’ve been able to help. Oh well. Avi braced herself. Remember, only get what you absolutely need to know, and get out. The concoction only lasts twenty minutes. Stepping out into the grass, Avi willed her body to change. Large wings sprouted out from her back. With one final look at the home, Avi took a swing of her concoction and flew towards the river. Time to greet Ma and Pa.]

[It's almost impossible to tell which one is which- they're both a dull gray color with black specks in a sort of diamond pattern along their backs. One is almost completely submerged in the water, nursing an obvious injury, with the other patrolling the river's shore for any more potential danger- or maybe just some prey to share with their hurt mate. The one on the shore stops and sniffs- they can't see Avi, but they sure can smell her, and she smells like lunch.]

[enthusiasticaviator]

[Avi positioned herself in the direction the wind blew. She had read that kestrels specialized in wind-hovering, and had figured out how to pull off the trick herself. Being above the treeline, Avi guessed she was somewhere between 45-70 feet above them currently. It wasn’t lost on her that the one shore was sniffing around in her direction. They have a sense of smell, and a keen one, at that. Looks like they retained their affection for each other, too. This made Avi a little happy-some part of them is still awake in there. She’ll have to do a flight around later, around lunchtime. Drop them some fish, or maybe a cow. She can slather it with a healing ointment, which should help the injured one. Their mate is probably gonna give them a larger portion of any food she brings. Getting closer is almost absolutely a no-no, though. If they didn’t recognize Garrett or Liam, they can’t be all there. She’s got a good sixteen minutes left on the concoction, she’ll observe until about four then fly back. She doesn’t want them to know which direction the house is, being so close.]

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[The one that caught her scent flicks their tongue out, trying to pinpoint where the smell is coming from. They look up, and stretch themself further up from the ground, flicking their tongue out again. They've almost figured out where she's at. Fortunately for Avi, she is very much out of their reach. They turn away in disappointment and go back to searching for prey on the ground.]

[enthusiasticaviator]

[Avi watches with bated breath. She knows logically that they would have to be truly massive to reach her, but the sight of a giant sea serpent sniffing her out isn’t a pleasant one. Fear will only tip them off more, so she stifled it as best she could. She sighed in relief when it lowered itself down. Clearly, it thought she wouldn’t be worth the effort. So this is a safe height from them. Even if they truly weren’t themselves, Avi couldn’t help but feel a little bad for the snakes. The shore one looked so sad when it realized it couldn’t eat her-which Avi was grateful for-and knew it must be so hungry and worried for its partner. There isn’t much in the way of food for them here. She’s got twelve minutes left on her concoction. Maybe she should use those steaks she brought to feed them. Put it on a parachute and air drop it to them? She’ll wait to see if this one catches anything before committing to that idea.]

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[Sadly, no luck. Most of the wildlife had taken off in terror when they came crashing through the day before. Maybe a forgetful rabbit or squirrel here and there, but not much else. And the one attempting to hunt is clearly hesitant to leave their mate to find food elsewhere.]

[enthusiasticaviator]

[Eight minutes left. Avi starts to think about how she’s going to leave; fly higher in the opposite direction of the house, then loop back around and touchdown in the front yard. Sounds decent and doable enough. She felt absolutely terrible for the both of them, seeing how hard the patrolling one was trying to find food. Avi even started to debate whether she should go to a livestock show after giving them the steaks. Buy a few older cows, have them put out, then drop ‘em over for Ma and Pa. It’ll definitely be expensive, but they’re ten years in the past, so her money is worth more here. Maybe. Avi didn’t want to do the conversion. She watched the patrolling one closely, looking intently for any possible gender markers. Thicker tail, more muscular build, anything that a regular snake species would exhibit. It’s a tall ask, she knows that, but it isn’t exactly easy to compare and contrast them right now. She probably won’t get a good look at the injured one at all. Avi made a mental note to ask Ben how the Copps hurt the nursing one so she can properly dose the steaks.]

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[The injured one finally lifts their head out of the water and makes a sound to get their mate's attention. The other stops their hunt and moves to curl around them. Maybe if they're still for a while, a deer will turn up.]

[enthusiasticaviator]

[Ah! There’s the injured one! Avi tried to get a good look at the both of them and compare their heads. That’s a very good tell! Looks like the injured one wanted to cuddle with the patrolling one. They look pretty satisfied right now, so she should have time to make them food. Avi broke away from her holding position, and began to make the loop back to the house. As she ascended, she began to think of mixtures she could put into the steak to help them. She wants to see them stabilize at least somewhat, and hopefully that’ll tone down the aggression. Maybe, if she feeds them enough, she can build a terrarium to house them in and shrink them down for it. That’ll buy Copps a lot of time to kick The Artificer’s ass. But not this instant, at the least. Avi began her final approach right as the concoction wore off. She touched down on the driveway, willing her wings away when she slowed to a stop]

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[Benny waves at her from the door, holding the satchel she left sitting on a patio chair.]

Hey there! Looks like you had about the same idea I did!

[enthusiasticaviator]

Well, what can I say Ben? Great minds think alike. Wanna talk with me while I prep your in-laws lunch?

[Avi walked up to Benny. She was in a much better mood than when she had left, but the lingering concern was unmistakable in her eyes]

May I have my satchel, star boy?

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

You sure can, bird lady. [He hands it over.] So how are they faring?

[enthusiasticaviator]

[Avi trilled at him playfully, tucking the satchel under her arm. She walked into the home and made her way to the kitchen, pulling out a baking sheet. The satchel was set off to the side of it, and she pulled an injector from the countertop. Finally, she opened the freezer and put the steaks into the microwave to thaw.]

Not too bad, not too great. The two of them are together, and the injured one never left the river. The other one patrolled the river bed for a time, before the injured one called them over to snuggle. From what I observed they’re really not aggressive unless feeding or threatened. Jury’s still out on their mental state. We know it’s not great cause they didn’t recognize Copps, but considering they retained their love for each other they can’t be all gone. Haven’t been able to tell who’s who just yet, though.

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

At least they've retained that much of themselves... So the injury doesn't look too serious? At least from what you could see of it? Liam said he had to shoot at them to get free, and that he tried only to give minor injuries just to discourage them, but it is hard to aim when you're being attacked by something that wants to eat you. I think he was as shaken from having to hurt them as he was by the fact they didn't recognize him.

[enthusiasticaviator]

No where near enough to worry about it dying, but enough that it didn’t want to move at all. From what I could see. The hurt one never left the river.

[The microwave went off, and Avi pulled out the steaks. She cut open the packaging using a knife she found on the counter, then placed the four steaks onto the baking sheet. Whipping around, she went to the sink to wash her hands, using her elbows for everything instead of her hands. When she finished, Avi reached down and opened up a cabinet, pulling out a small bowl. It was then promptly placed next to her satchel, which she popped open and plucked concoctions out of.]

The only reason I wasn’t attacked myself was because I chose to hover above the tree line. The one on the bank sniffed me out almost as soon as I got there. I just know it’s absolutely tearing him up inside. And for his parents’ sakes, I hope they don’t remember that at all. It would break their hearts. …Hey, do you think I should include the clarity serum in the healing and vitality mix? I used to down that stuff all the time before Liam gave me his feather. I doubt it’ll do much, but less aggression when we get within striking range would be nice.

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

[Benny watches as she works, taking a minute to think.]

It can't hurt to try, at least. If it works, then great, but if not, then at least we know. All things considered, this situation could be a lot worse. At least they managed to get themselves that far into the woods first, and at least no one is going to be out there bothering them, except us, and we know to take precautions.

[enthusiasticaviator]

You’re very right spaceman, it could be much worse. I think feeding them is going to become a necessity, though. I saw no large fauna anywhere near them, and with one injured the other isn’t going to leave. At their size, if nothing shows up they’re gonna swim up river or starve. Neither option is good. But even the steaks aren’t a long term solution. As aforementioned, they can swim through the river at any point. To keep them here and keep them safe, we have to give them a reason to stay or a place they can’t leave. So we either start looking into buying cows to satisfy them long term, or building a small enclosure that mimics the river so I can shrink ‘em down and put them in. I don’t see them making the long haul here otherwise.

[Avi curated her concoctions to Ben’s suggestion, and started to mix them one by one into the bowl. Everything she put in was edible, and beyond the herbal aroma the mixture had no tells. When she was satisfied with the brew, she stuck the injector in and started lacing the steaks with it.]

[ask-good-cop-bad-cop]

That is a good point... We weren't given any notice of how long this will last, or if it'll even wear off at all... I can take those if you're done with them. Given how clean the place is again, I don't imagine you got a lot of sleep last night.

[enthusiasticaviator]

I woke up at ten. If I remember correctly I went to bed at around four-ish. That’s a good six hours! More than I get most nights with my job. I can function on six. But I’ll need you coming with me anyway. Your anti-gravity abilities will make the drop off easy enough. You’re gonna need these.

[Avi holds out a pair of latex gloves and a shot glass full of green liquid. The invisibility concoction.]

Drink this before we take off, I’ll do the same. It’ll give us both a good twenty-five minutes. Follow me closely. When I leave, you leave. You’ll drop the meat when we get to the river, since you can make it float down to them. Then we’ll watch them feed and see if the steaks do anything. Think up some solutions while we’re at it. And if nothing else sticks: do not under any circumstances go below the tree line. I will not be able to save you if you do.