Neutral Ain't All It's Cracked Up to Be

[Python]

    "Why you-" Python would have bitten Miri's hand off for pushing up against their snout so idly and without fear, but there were more pressing issues at the moment. Some other mortal human appeared, and a little... thing? It smelled of ocean salt, deep sea earth, and dead fish which was an assault to their sense of smell. It was almost all white too except for the markings of black here and there, so just what was this thing? Python just glared at Miri, a look that definitely meant "I will deal with you later."

    "Ugh, just what we need..." They hissed quietly while staring at Nanashi and then Slugsworth. The other human was definitely male, and rather skinny for one to boot. The lighting bolt like markings made them cautious though, but he didn't reek of a certain Olympian that controlled thunder like it was nothing, so any magic he wielded was probably his own. Still, better to be safe then sorry. Johnny was offering the other male human something in a jar (food?) so they turned their attention towards Slugsworth.

    "If you must know," They replied to Slugsworth's question. "I didn't see any sort of water spout shooting up into the sky lately, so it had to happen before I came back to life. I can't say the same for the other beings here. But if I should be able to ask, what are you, exactly? You reek of the deep sea."

[Nanashi]

"Here you go! Apple pie in a jar, just like how Ma made it for anyone headin' west."

Nanashi gingerly took the jar of apple pie from Johnny, still feeling quite...unnerved as to what is going on. He looked over at the goblin-- correction, gargoyle-- as she offered to bring them to a luau. While Nanashi was still very cautious of this strange creature, his stomach growling overruled any protests he had.

And it did smell really good.

"You know what? Sure. I'll have a bite or two--"

Nanashi was interrupted when he heard something shoot out of the water. As he turned towards the sound he laid eye on....whatever the hell this thing is supposed to be. A sea chicken? It certainly looked like one. He wasn't sure if he was hallucinating due to the heat or lack of food. He wasn't even paying attention to anything it had asked.

He takes a deep breath, before turning to Miri with a face that read how confused he was.

"You wouldn't happen to have any booze, would ya?"

[Deleted]

Johnny grinned widely as the strange man took his pie jar. Now, Johnny didn't bet, but if he did, he'd place hard money on the idea this man hasn't had a home cooked meal in years; any small service he could give to him would be a blessing in that man's life. After all, those on the right hand of the Lord would be told that inasmuch as we help others, we would help him, and well...that was the greatest blessing of them all.

Patting him on the back, the young apple farmer looked Nanashi in the eye, and extended a hand. "Forgot to introduce myself stranger! Name's Johnny, Johnny Appleseed. It's a real pleasure to meet you, sir."

That's about when Miri extended her invitation, and a strange little critter came out of the ocean asking about water jets in the sky.

"Well, that's mighty kind, little miss gargoyle, and I would be honored to come. Might I ask if my dear friend Mister Python can come with us as well? I mean, they did come allllll the way from Greece to see Hawaii, and I bet they'd like the... The..."

It seemed Johnny was having a hard time pronouncing Laulau, or Kalua. "...The fancy food you were mentioning. Besides, I haven't been to any sort of party in... oh Lord, 7, 8 years now? I'd be pretty out of place without someone I know."

Reaching his hand behind his neck, Johnny smiled. "I know you don't take kindly to people calling out your height, but I'm sure Mister Python is really nice once we all start eating some food. What do you say?"

Zacchaeus, meanwhile, slid off of Johnny's back unnoticed and wandered over to Slugworth, curiously inspecting the odd creature. Circling warily, the small skunk worked up the courage to step closer, wondering what the ocean dweller was. Despite it's bravery in stepping closer, one could easily see it shake like a leaf, no thanks to the s-s-sss-ssnake near by.

[Miri]

"You wouldn't happen to have any booze, would ya?"

“Ooh, it’s your lucky day, Sparky! You’re looking at the best bartender both on and off this plane. I’ve got mixes that’ll make your head spin! They come virgin as a standard, but I’ve got a little magic up my sleeve for you~”

Long ears perk slightly at the strange address from... well, she wasn’t sure what it was. It looked a bit like a chicken, a bit like a bunny, and it had come from the water.

Well, Hawaii sure had its oddities, didn’t it?

“Awh! Cute ears~! Sorry, Sugar, I don’t know much about any water jets. I’m no local. Could ask around the luau we’re hosting. Someone may have seen something. And... as for you.”

Eyes shift to glance at Johnny, and then Python. There’s a hang here, as if the little creature seems to weigh her options.

“... Fine. Mister Appleseed thinks you can behave? You can come, too. But if I find out you’re bullying anyone else, I’m going to crack the whip, and you’re not going to like it.”

With that, the creature turns back towards where she’d come from, as if fully expecting the strange, ragtag group to follow.

[Python]

    Python just brought a clawed hand to their face and face palmed into it, just about done with this entire situation. It turned into one hell of a tizzy, worse then probably Dionysus on a drunk partying binge! ...Okay, maybe not as bad as that, but there was a reason such events and parties hosted by the God of Alcohol, Frenzies, and whatever else he barely held under that wreath of his on his head were the stuff of legends. Well, no need to look a gift horse in the mouth. They just ignored the other beings at the moment and turned their gaze towards Miri. 

    "...Fine." They huffed with a flick of the tongue. "I'll behave, since the Appleseed human is vouching for me. In my state, I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth and pass on free food. I'll need everything I can get if I'm going to get out of this sorry state of mine."

    The serpentine dragon just then pawed their way over to Miri, all be it a few feet away out of... respect. More like annoyance and not wanting to hear this little gargoyle thing continue to yell at them. That, and they stopped to see if anyone else would follow. They'd all have to be pretty dumb to pass up free food like this!

[Nanashi]

Nanashi looked at Johnny's hand before he shook it, a small smile managing to pass on his lips. As they shook hands, there was a bit of a charge in the air, not enough to shock, but enough to raise hair on one's arms.



"Name's Nanashi. Nice to meet ya."



Nanashi didn't seem too keen on the idea of a giant snake thing coming along, but as long as there wasn't any trouble, he had to let it slide; free food is free food, after all. Even if he could get away with it, living on free samples on a cruise ship was no way for a man to live. Besides, he seemed to like Miri. Anyone that has no fear of something twice their size is someone he'd like to hang out with.



"Well, Miss Gargoyle, lead the way."

[Slugsworth]

The little mercreature’s eyes squinted in frustration. His foot tapped the wet rock he was standing on, quickly increasing in speed before stopping suddenly.

“I am not cute,” he scoffed.

This was useless. If all land-dwellers were like this, he would never find his father. Maybe he had ought to try describing him. Red eyes widened with a flash once he noticed the little… furry black-and-white thing coming nearer. Slugsworth sneered, baring his tiny flat teeth that sat some distance behind his beak.

“What are you staring at?” he grumbled.

Slugsworth was swiftly distracted, finally noticing the others were beginning to go. He lifted his brows. They -- couldn’t just leave him!

“Wait!” he hissed before turning around and jumping back into the water.

The white shape moved fast and vanished as it entered the deep. It appeared again half a minute later, bursting out and landing on the shore. Slugsworth now had a scroll of parchment in his mouth and a fishbone pen stuck behind his ear. He figured if he was forced to be here, he’d better get to charting the area. The sea bunny was now on all fours and started to lollop after the others, just like a land bunny.

[Deleted]

Johnny jumped slightly. The sensation of the hair-raising static was something he hadn't felt in a while, so it took him by surprise. Never the less, grinned and placed his arms on his sides, finally satisfied with the entire situation. "Well, then, looks like everyone is going to a party, then. This should be a hoot." Johnny chuckled to himself, finding satisfaction at his own little joke. "Ah if only the owls were here. They always seemed to like it when I told them that."

Looking down at Miri, almost squatting to her level, Johnny asked, "Like my new friend Nan... Na... Like Nanashi said, we should be going on. Sure would be nice to eat somethin' other than berries and apples. Not that I don't like them, but something new like this might taste pretty nice."

Zacchaeus glanced up at the angry little creature and ran. Quickly scooting up Johnny's back, the little skunk shook almost violently as he trembled in fear. Today was not the best day for the poor little guy.

[Python]

    ...Python was already regretting even agreeing to be all cordial just for the promise of food. Sure, they didn't have a lot of anything in the way of natural magic at the moment, but if they could use their teeth and claws, then maybe they could just muscle their way into this party or whatever it was that Miri had been at before and make off with what ever they could take. But then again... Python wasn't that stupid, and knew they were probably outmatched anyways.

    "Oh titans help me..." They hissed out in a combination of defeat and annoyance. 'I'm surrounded by idiots.' were the words they wanted to continue with but that probably wouldn't have been welcomed, especially by the gargoyle that was probably just a harpy in disguise. She definitely had the screechy voice and temper for it. The humans at least (including the strange little black and white creature that Johnny had with him) were able to move around with ease to the luau, though, looking at Slugsworth hopping around like some rabbit on the country side just was... a tad bit pathetic.

    "Hey, little deep sea creature." They said dead panned towards Slugsworth, giving just the barest of a glance downwards. "You probably won't get far just hopping around like that, especially with that stuff of yours. You can... hitch a ride on my back or something, at least until we get to this 'luau', but then, you're on your own."