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[8th_castellan]

There is a lone castellan standing down by the edge of the lake that is a short walk from his castle.

Well, not completely alone.

He has a cow with him.

After his talk with Courtney, he decided to take heart her suggestion of speaking to Hips about the newest tenants. But he'd like to ensure first they're in a good mood before he goes to fetch

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[h_hollister]

Weeeeeeell, that's all fine and dandy. Only problem is that Hips came looking for him first.

Since he didn't answer the text message she sent him, she comes looking for him. All it takes is one quick 'ping' to his parasite, and then she sets off toward the lake to find him.

And find him she does.

"...Ramon? What's the cow for?"

[8th_castellan]

Egads!

He turns to face her quickly, but more because she startled him. Just a bit zoned in on looking for the underwater behemoth is all.

He has to admit this is not how he saw his explanation of said lake beast going, though.

"Oh! Hippolyta! What are you doing here? I was just going to go get you! Right after I, uhh..." He glances back at the cow she's already pointed out, his look being returned by dumb bovine eyes. The cow continues to chew lazily when he's facing Hips again with a nervous smile.

"I want to point out first and foremost that I wasn't keeping this a secret. I just...never got a chance, or got around to telling you about it. All right?"

[h_hollister]

Yannow, defensiveness is never the right way to start up a conversation. Of course, she's got plenty to be defensive about as well, so she just cocks an eyebrow at him.

"Okay, not keeping what a secret? You've suddenly developed a soft spot for Bessie here and you're now a sworn, dyed-in-the-tri-corner-hat vegetarian?"

[8th_castellan]

"I-...Uh. No." Another darting glance at the cow, followed by one towards the lake, then back to Hips. The cow is fine where it is, and Ostha is perhaps snoozing, so he steps over closer to Hippolyta, smiling. Everything is fine, see? He's smiling!

"Errr, you see, a few weeks ago...Okay, many weeks ago, back when you and I had, ah, imbibed together," there's a silent, mental Plaga nudge here that helps imply he's talking about the time they smoked some of the good stuff, "I-...Haha, this is really hard to explain. What I mean to say is, there's, uh-..." He's only making himself more nervous in the fear that she'll be angry somehow; he doesn't want an argument over this, seeing that they've only started to mend their relationship woes.

And while Ramon wrings his hands and stammers nervously, the cow just moos again and looks lazily over the lake's surface.

...Wait. Are those bubbles out there...?

[h_hollister]

That kiss is returned with interest, and then she pushes the front door of the castle open. His suggestion as to where to go is taken on board.

"Okay, the library it is."

She tries to think back to when she got sick because of those damned poison flowers, but that whole few days was just a blur of fever and ick. So she just shrugs at his 'going exploring' explanation.

"Hey, like I said, more pets is fine by me, just so long as you take care of 'em all. So, yeah, let's go meet this other one. And then I really, really have to talk to you. It's kinda important."

[8th_castellan]

"Okay. We'll make this as quick as possible then. Please mind we can't rush this one, though, since it doesn't seem in his nature to be conversationally hurried, but..." He's leading the way towards the library quickly, still holding her hand, a bounce now present in his step. Eager and happy to be showing off the creatures he's amassed within his home, excited to share his love of them with the woman he loves even more

[h_hollister]

Hoboy. That's not a good sign at all. Avoid slang. Might as well tell the sun to stop shining, Ramon. Perhaps it'd be best if she just kept her mouth shut, then? Yes. Definitely a good idea.

Although when the door opens, her first immediate thought is that it's another Plaga monster, somebody like Ramon, only stuck in that form. But...too many legs, too many eyes, and the office is cobwebbed. Yeah, no Plaga carrier she knows of can spin webs. (Unless they can and Ramon's just neglected to tell her, which is distinctly possible.)

So, amazingly enough, she doesn't freak out. She doesn't even go stiff. She just continues to hold his hand, respectfully watching the creature with a neutral expression. Her palms, though, are a little sweaty. Hey, that's a damn improvement over running away screaming, okay? Sheesh.

[8th_castellan]

Ramon gives a short, nodding bow, and the spider-like beast swathed in bandages eventually does the same