One Night At The Zoo

Summary:
June 15 2014: Fenris and Inara run into one another at the Bronx Zoo. And the Subway. And… yeah, damn Norns.

Bronx Zoo

A large and relatively well funded zoo with habitats for many of the traditional zoo staples. Animal lovers of New York rejoice.


Characters

NPCs
*


Mood Music:
[*]


Most only know Jeremiah Wolfson as a park ranger who occasionally evinces more money than you'd really think he should have on a government salary. And he likes it that way. Today he's at the Brox Zoo. It's late. It's near closing time in fact. But he enjoys the presence of so many wild creatures he wouldn't ordinarily interact with. He values human interaction and animal interaction equally, but it's harder to get the latter whilst living in New York City. It's part of the reason he has the job he has. At this very moment, he's leaning on a railing near the tiger habitat, watching the great cats and munching on a small bag of popcorn. Mmmm. Popcorn. Asgard needs this. Among other things. Like fewer Asgardians.

*

It's been a long day at the zoo and though Inara loves working with the animals, the people really take a toll on her. It's not their fault, she reminds herself. They are only human. She will be glad to go home though, home to her friends. Their chatter about all the things they did today will cheer her up. It always does. As she is walking out of the zoo, she notices someone standing by the tiger pen. Not surprising, they are fun to watch. More fun to talk to though.

"Excuse me, sir, but the Zoo is closing for the night. You will have to go and come back another day."

*

"I'll see you later." The man says as he straightens up at the woman's voice. Odd. That sounds kind of familiar. Almost as if…

He turns to face the woman who addressed him. Recognition flashes across his features. Her. He doesn't think ever got her name, but there's no mistaking that face. No many would have gotten up the nerve to slap him. It's almost, really, amusing.

"Oh, it's you. Hello. I did not know you worked here."

*

Inara is used to people talking to the animals. It's amusing really because the animals don't tend to understand humans and humans certainly don't understand animals. But it's nice that they try. She starts to put on that smile she uses for the zoo visitors but then falters when she sees who it is, her smile is suddenly gone. "You," she says with venom. "What? Scaring animals in the woods wasn't enough for you? You came here to maybe get co-ordinates for an attack on the zoo?"

*

Fenris sighs the sigh of the put upon. It's not her fault, he reminds himself, she's only human and humans are trying creatures at the best of times. It's one reason he's never aspired to rule them. He honestly doesn't know how he wouldn't end up trying to take his own life after a century or so. "I came to visit the tigers. And the wolves. Not unlike most of the patrons here. And I was not, if you care to recall, the one lighting off heavy ordinance."

*

Inara Bahrami crosses her arms over her chest, clearly not impressed. The tigers are curious though, walking over as if it were Inara and Fenris on display and not them. "No, you left pretty much as soon as I got there and let that bunch of nuts and bolts do all the work. And don't think I'm buying any of that 'We're doing this to protect you', baloney. I should report you to the police as a possible terrorist."

*

"Be my guest. I have no connection to Eight beyond having met him the day before and as I keep telling you, I had no hand in his creation." Fenris shakes his head and looks to the tigers.

"Humans." He says with a long suffering sigh.

*

The tigers are rather amused by this. So *this* is the draw of watching other, why the humans always come to watch them. The pair are certainly intrigued.

"Humans? You say that like you're not one. So what is it? Alien? A machine yourself?"

*

Fenris looks amused. "Did you not listen to what your lupine friends were telling you the other day? For one who as such a rare gift, to speak with the other creatures with whom you share the land, I'm baffled by how little you seem to be listening just at the moment. Ask your friends here. They know the truth, at least in part."

He glances over to the tigers. "Wait, what?"

*

Inara Bahrami also turns to the tigers. "What?"

She looks to Fenris again, sizing him up. "That's right, the wolf called you Alpha to Alphas. I thought you were a werewolf, but you aren't that, so.. what are you?" Blunt and to the point, isn't she?

*

"Not a werewolf, you're correct. I'm a man with an innate connection to the wild, among other things." He takes a curious step closer to her. "And you… don't seem to strike our striped friends as entirely human either. Which is curious. They're good at knowing that kind of thing, I've found."
He looks over her closely. In a human it might be ogling. Fenris however is studying her more than appreciating her looks. Though he does note, as a matter of record, that she is rather striking for a mortal woman.

*

Shaking her head, Inara explains. "They think of me almost like one of their own. I can talk to them and they like being around me." Like the beasts she loves so much, she doesn't even bother to lie. Why should she? She doesn't bring it up often as it tends to upset most humans, but this one is looking at her in the same way she was looking at him and besides, considering his earlier behavior and the way the animals have talked about him, why not?

*

"Ah. Hence your presence here…" He looks at the name plate on her uniform. "…Inara." He hadn't caught her name before. "Persian is it not? Well, Hittite. Goddess of Wild Animals." She and Fenris have met. The Hittite deities were a reclusive bunch though and Fenris much preferred the climes of Europe to those of Iran and the Near East. He glances back at the tigers and then flicks them a few bits of popcorn. No reason they shouldn't enjoy it too, even if meat is more their thing. "I'm Jeremiah, if I did not mention that before."

*

Giving Fenris an offended glare, she covers her name tag even though he's already read it. "I should slap you again," she tells him. How is it this man can make her so angry? He's definitely not human. They confuse her and his behavior is very animal. It's comforting if it wasn't so infuriating as well.

The thrown bit of popcorn causes her to look daggers at the man. "I go all day telling people not to feed the animals human food. It's not good for them. Do you have any idea what they put on that stuff?" She looks down to the tigers, one heading over to sniff at the offered tidbit. "Don't eat that. Because I said so. Because it will give you a stomach ache. Because it's people food!"

She turns and heads over towards the back, a door that says employees only. "Teenagers," she mutters to herself.

*

The god-wolf shrugs to the tigers and waves. "See you two later. Behave, now."

He turns and sees himself out, passing by the primates’ habitat and the wolf environment on his way. Once out the gate he turns and begins to walk, thinking over the days’ events and not really looking where he's going. So it happens a few minutes later that he winds up walking by the employee's service door. She's really not that bad, for a mortal, though very… touchy. Modern man's ways of dealing with that are… needlessly complex and most people simply don't accept the animal way of handling such personality conflicts. Pity, really.

*

Inara is actually inside the tiger pen then, picking up the bits of popcorn. She's not the least bit worried about being hurt by the large cats, even stopping to relax and pet them, enjoy their company. She sighs, thinking about the man that seems to know just how to get under her skin. Alpha of Alphas. Whatever he is, it's annoying. After a bit of time with the tigers, she gets up and goes to leave. Time to go home. A subway ride to M-Town and then a bed filled with stray dogs, cats and assorted other city animals. She doesn't even notice the man standing by the service door as she exits and walks towards the subway.

*

When he's not feeling like teleporting around town, which is most of the time, 'Jeremiah' makes his way about mainly via public transport. New York is such an awful city to drive in. By coincidence, he also lives in M-Town, not because he's a mutant but because it's the kind of place where people leave him alone and he values his privacy. He's deep in thought though so it's only as he's descending into the subway station that he notices exactly whom he is behind.

"Oh. Naturally." The Norns have a sense of humor, if nothing else.

*

Inara doesn't even know that the annoying man is behind her. She has buried her nose in a book, it seems. A dry tome on animal anatomy, the sort that veterinarians need to study before getting their degree. She is rather skilled at walking along without bumping into anything, but maybe that is because the rats that live in the subway seem to be giving her directions.

*

Fenris doesn't seem to be inclined to bother her. Until the get to the turn style and he reaches over to drop two tokens in the slot before she puts her book down. The turn style lights up and he waits for her to go, looking down at the rat and putting his finger up to his mouth in a 'shhh' sign. Yes, the wolf of the apocalypse seems to have something of an understated sense of humor. At least he does tonight.

*

The animal whisperer doesn't even put her book down to pay. She reaches into her pocket, too indepth in her studies to take the moment to just stop and look for it. She finds her token and drops it in the slot, not noticing that it was already paid for her. Guess the person after them gets to have a free ride. A few of the rats start to scatter. People don't tend to like them and it's safest to not be seen. But there is always one brave one in the bunch and this one crawls up the leg of Inara's work pants. For this she puts her book down.

"Hello there. Not going to let me go home without giving you a carrot?" This too she pulls from a pocket, a baggie of baby carrots. She takes one out, handing it to the rat that has managed to climb its way to her shoulder. The rest of the carrots are discarded in a dark corner for its brethren.

*

Fenris walks behind her by a few paces, hands in his pockets, eyeing the 'vermin' with a mixture of amusement and curiosity. She doesn't have a predator's aura. If she did the rats and other prey animals would never come near her. Neither, though, does she project like prey, else the wolves and tigers would never accept her as an equal much less a leader. Her aura is, all in all, rather a fascinating mystery. In all his centuries he's met very few humans with such a connection to the land and its’ creatures and none at all with a connection quite like hers. But it isn't magic, or at least, if it is it's quite subtle. The subway car's doors open as he muses upon these thoughts and he files on behind her.

*

Inara Bahrami kneels down as the subway train approaches, letting the little 'vermin' run down her arm with his mouth full of carrot bounty. She smiles as she watches him run off, being given a wide berth by most of the people. She was just playing with a New York city rat. Ewww!
It's when Inara is thus distracted from her book that she notices the only person willing to be standing near her. "You again! Are you following me?"

*

Fenris quirks an eyebrow. "No, I am simply headed home. This is the only line that goes to M-Town, after all." Which is where he lives. He watches the rat scurry off. Most creatures avoid him, able to sense what's beneath the skin, unless he addresses them specifically. Her aura though seems to be so calming that animals will even risk his presence to be near her.

"That's a rare gift you have there."

*

Inara Bahrami heading into the subway car, gives the man a glare. "You're heading to M-Town? Really? You just happen to be heading to where I'm going? I don't believe you." She turns and tries to find herself a seat. Away from the creepy man that happens to be connected to wolves. Somehow. She's not used to people other than her having that sort of connection.

"I thought I was the only one with it. Until I met you," she says before putting the book back up in front of her face in an attempt to let this man know that the conversation is over.

*

Fenris is not deterred. Put off, perhaps, just a little bit, but he's had far, far worse reactions in the past. Likely he assumes it's just his predatory aura making her unpleasant. "No. There have been others, though I've never met anyone with a gift quite like yours. To be connected to all creatures is most unusual. In fact I've never heard of it. Most often it's a single species or less commonly all predators, or all heard animals or the like." His voice, though deep and resonant, is low enough that it won't carry to anyone who isn't willing to brave both their presences quite closely.

After a moment's consideration Fenris sits as well, opposite Inara.

*

Humans are confusing with their social mores at the best of times. Small talk never made sense to her. Say what's on your mind in order to convey information. True, she's had to learn in order to be a decent tour guide, but that's when she's on the job. Her human job. She tries ignoring the man some more but after a whole stop, she pulls her book down to see that he's still looking right at her. Well, that's not very human.

"Well, it's not. It's all animals. Except insects or fish. Is there a point to this chatter? I don't tend to talk to strangers unless I'm at work."

*

Well, that's not a human response at all. The directness of it makes him smile a little, actually. "Only that you are unusual and I find that interesting. Most people take exception to being unusual and their definition of it lacks… imagination. There are few things that are truly outside people consider normal and most of the differences they make up between themselves are petty and contrived. The amount of resources, or influence, or the clothes they wear or the music they listen to. Nothing so different as the ability to talk to beasts and birds. Such is why you found me talking to Eight, dangerous as he can be. He is, after all, like no one else. As are you, it seems."

*

“So you like to associate with unusual people? Which would explain your living in M-Town. Yes, I'm different. I've come to terms with it. Only other humans seem to mind my difference. And not all of them. However, I don't want to be part of your collection of unusual people. Good day." She lifts her book back up

*

"Truth be told, I don't typically associate with people at all. I live in M-Town because the people there have the sense to leave me alone when I want it. Which is most of the time."

He doesn't seem to have any problem addressing her book but doesn't carry the conversation on any further when he falls silent. He seems quite content to regard her, book and all, actually. Has he even blinked since the conversation started?

*

The train finally comes to M-Town and Inara stands and leaves the train. She continues to be astutely ignoring the man, much in the way a cat ignores a person. At the exit of the station, she starts heading down the street as alleycats begin to pop out of places to follow her.

*

This is his exit too. He lives rather quietly in an apartment near what passes for the park in M-Town. It affords him both privacy and the chance to get away to something nature-ish on short notice. It's not always convenient to get away to a state park. Or central park, as may be the case. Though he started off about a block behind her and actually took a few different turns, he finds himself about halfway home right behind her… and a crowd of stray cats. Again. Norns. He silently shakes a fist up at the heavens and then follows at a distance that will hopefully look simply like two people headed the same way. The locals might intervene on her behalf if they believe foul play is afoot. Which would be bad.

For them.

*

Inara's apartment is also close to the park. Not the same one, the Norns like their jokes but even that would have been noticed before now. No, it's the one kitty corner from his own building, equally far away from the park. She enters the building, ignorant of the man that's been following her. She has a smile on her face now as she talks with the cats. Some dogs have come to join her as well and are not bothering the cats. As she heads into the building, the cats and dogs en masse head into the alleyway where a light turns on behind a window, open behind the bars on the main floor. Seriously? Who lives on the main floor in New York? Or keeps their windows open?

*

Fenris stands on the corner, regarding that very question when he notices all the animals flood into the place. Interesting. Not out of place given what he's seen of her before but, still, quite interesting. There's a portion of him that's tempted to get a closer look but… perhaps not just yet. Instead he crosses the street, crouches down and holds his hand out for one of the cats perching on the windowsill. He doesn't walk right up to the window. That… would probably not do at the moment.

*

The cat is washing a paw, seeming rather content. It looks fairly well fed for a stray. Upon seeing Fenris it starts to saunter over. Sure, he's a big, bad wolf, but he's offering pettin's. Besides, cats are the superior species. The cat rubs her flank along his knee, back and forth, lifting her head to push it into his hand. "Love me."

*

The big bad wolf himself does. He scratches the cat on the neck and behind the ears and pets along her flank and spine, careful not to go near the front of the neck or belly. "Hello child of Bast. A bit crowded tonight, is it not? I rarely see so many of your brothers and sisters in one place." His voice is soft and low. No stranger to cats is he, stereotype or not. And he's known some proud and fierce ones in his time. When he roamed the earth as a wolf, he'd known some that would have done well in Amazon society. Indeed, he always suspected cats were the original Amazons.

*

The cat purrs happily, quite content to see that the wolf is more then willing to give her her 'due'. "We come to the nice one every night if hunting is bad. She feeds us. Warm dry place to sleep too. We have to be quiet though." She sits herself down, looking at the lit up window and washes a paw.

*

"Even with the others? I see no few rats and dogs. Pigeons too. What is it about her that draws you all so? There are many places in the city to be warm." He's now petting down the cat's back in slow, even strokes. "Never have I seen so many so willing to gather for the sake of one."

*

As if to answer that question, the woman is seen sticking her head out of her window, pouring a large bowl of birdseed into the alley. Another bowl of what looks like pellets of some sort is poured out as well. Rats and birds flock to the two piles, being much quieter then such a large number would normally be. An older dog is trying to get into the open window, arthritic. The woman leans out and scoops him up, pulling him into her home and talking softly to him. "Near her feels nice," as if that is all the answer he should need.

*

Fenris watches, absently petting the cat. He wonders a number of things, but isn't willing to do the one thing that would likely satisfy his curiosity. Not yet anyway. He's positive now that she isn't using magic which must mean her… whatever it is called is an innate part of her. Which in turn means that she isn't human. Not entirely anyway. And the name has him wondering. Divinity? Or one of those curious not-quite-humans that have been cropping up increasingly frequently of late.

"She does not get along with others of her kind, does she?"

*

The cat mrfs as it preens. "She tries, but no. She says animals are better. Smarter. Truer. She would rather be with us. Even if ‘us’ sometimes means dogs too." The cat stretches then and starts heading back to the open window.

*

That may have to do for the night. A closer look may spark a confrontation and by the looks of her, she's no shortage of creatures to come to her aid. Fenris has no desire to out himself tonight, so he stands and regards the open window a moment longer and then turns to head back across the street.


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