milliways_bar | (no subject)

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Two days ago, Rachel mentioned to Tommy that on occasion, Bar might decide that he be deposited out back. This is one of those days, and it's a good thing too.

He's not sure what the Raptors would have done, precisely, if he'd actually had to haul them through the main doorway. He's just glad he was already Morphed when he arrived.

So, one Black Ranger, in full uniform and helmet, out back with small herd of brightly coloured and overly energetic dinos. They seem to be enjoying chasing each other at the moment, and so for now Tommy's just watching and letting them play.

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"Demon rabbits." -And you are surprised by this why?- The inner voice has a good point, Tommy concedes. After all, this place is definitely not Reefside.

"The Pack?" Tommy is familiar with the concept, obviously, considering he sort of has one of his own; one member in particular has apparently decided that the scritching makes up for the brief moment of complete and utter disorientation. Yrael, however... Hm. Tommy chalks it up to the person in white, and Tommy's starting to question whether or not he's really a person at all, being infinitely more than what he seems.

Likewise, a familiar concept.

"And what is the Dreaming?"

"Yes, demon rabbits. They are little, and red, and have red eyes. They are opportunistic hunters, and have been known to attack unwary patrons. The Pack, that is, the group of weres" pronounced as wherez "and I hunt them to make sure their numbers do not get out of hand."

"That, and they taste good."

"The Dreaming..." Yrael pauses, smiling. "It the Realm of Dream, where one goes when one is asleep. It is a lot more things besides, but if one goes far enough into the forest, one will be in the Dreaming. Usually, due to nature of this place, one will find oneself turned around if one goes in too far. Keep going, in most places, and you eventually walk back out of the forest, right where you started."

"Dream can explain it better than I can, of course."

"I'll make sure to be wary, then." Or at least on the lookout, because tyrannodrones and giant monsters are enough, thanks. Tommy doesn't really need a slew of demonic bunnies attacking him as well.

The concept of the Dreaming is quite intriguing, actually, in light of the sheer vividness of some of the dreams that Tommy's had in the past.

"Given the nature of this place, does that also mean that you can visit when you're awake?" Not that he plans to, at least not intentionally, but it'd be nice to know.

Yrael smiles. "Ah. Ask Dream. He'd know better how to answer than I."

"But, and I must ask that you forgive my curiosity, what are these creatures that so enjoy being scritched? I have not seen their like, before."

He smirks and scritches the black Raptor's nose.

For some reason the implications behind the name "Dream" make Tommy feel slightly ill at ease. He does, however, bear the information in mind, just in case it comes in handy someday.

"Condemn curiosity over something new?" Tommy looks vaguely amused by that. "Nah. They're Raptors, a rather interesting bio-mechanical version, of course. The real animals died out millions of years ago." He chuckles as Jase nudges into the touch. "I designed this particular bunch with a side somewhat departed from their prehistoric ancestors. They appreciate things like affection and play. It lets them bond with myself and the others, which in turn enables us to use them as transportation without getting thrashed."

Except at the beginning when he'd been taming them, of course. Then, they'd thrown him clear across the lair.

"Raptors. I have read about them, but I have not seen them. They have been exinct, I would think, for some time, on Earth. But these are... what did you say? Bio-mechanical versions? Designed by you? How?"

The red one is possibly trying to nudge the black one out of the way, in hopes of more scritches.

"65 million years gone, or thereabouts. At least the larger species that went during one of Earth's mass extinction events; descendants were a different matter."

Tommy tugs his mount gently to one side so that Conner's can get a bit more attention; he scratches the creatures flank to make up for it, and while his technique may not be as refined, it seems to satisfy for the time being.

"A friend and I were doing experiments centering on finding out whether or not dinosaur DNA could be a viable source of genetic material. It's a popular idea in the medical profession, where I'm from, the idea of creating truly integrated artificial limbs, mechanical structures meshed with living tissue, driven entirely by nerve impulses and able to function almost exactly like completely organic body parts. There's a bunch of controversy over using human tissue in experimentation, though, especially during the 'does this even work' phase. We had to find a source that no one could really complain about. We got lucky with that, as it happened.

"Our aim, besides the good of humanity and all that stuff, was to create something like these." He pats a Raptor's side. "I had a feeling they'd be useful." Once a Ranger, always a Ranger, after all. "Anton just thought they'd be fascinating."

Yrael chuckles and taps the red one on the nose for being selfish. There is nothing chiding in it, though. Almost praise.

"And it worked, and you have your useful companions and transport, and Anton has something with which to be fascinated."

"One's curiosity coming to fruition is always a nice feeling, I have found."

The animal looks immensely pleased with itself, but that's probably no surprise.

"Yeah, pretty much. Though... well, Anton disappeared a while back, before the eggs hatched. I expect he'd find them fascinating now, though." Tommy certainly does!

"And yes, it's a satisfying feeling. Idle curiosity is all well and good, but to achieve something is better still." Particularly something useful, but even silly achievments have their own merit.

Yrael blinks those green catseyes of his, smiling bemusedly. "He disappeared? You do not sound concerned."

Yrael blinks those green catseyes of his, smiling bemusedly. "He disappeared? You do not sound that concerned for him."

Anoter raptor is nosing Yrael's side. "That tickles," Yrael informs it, plainly.

"We presumed he was dead, and there was no cause to be concerned for a dead man," Tommy says simply. "Sad, yes, but not concerned." Then, he frowns. "What bothers me is that he isn't dead and just turned up a couple weeks ago, after being gone for years, with no explanations."

Bringing with him a detached attitude, a preference for business over discovery, an adopted son... Trent, well, that seems like a gesture the old Anton would have made. But trying to take over the Cyber Cafe and barely acknowledging his old friend's presence after years? Definitely not the Anton Mercer that Tommy remembers. Unfortunately, he can't expend that much energy or time on concern right now. He's got other problems.

"All I can really do right now is wonder what happened and leave it at that. I've got too much to do, to be concerned about a friend's new attitude. People change."

The Raptor doesn't seem to be deterred. After all, the gesture won at least some sort of attention.

"Sometimes people need secrets," the person grins, cattily, and pokes the tickling raptor's nose. "What was that saying I once read? 'Mysteries keep humanity sane.'"

"I am not sure about the actual veracity of the remark, but it sounds about right."

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