progresscity | A Hard Working Jungle Cat

Who: Bagheera and anyone who choses to join him
What: Getting used to this new life, starting work
Where: Animal Kingdom, mostly
When: Thursday/Friday
Warnings: none at the moment!

[Bagheera had spent approximately 10 minutes in his "apartment" before abandoning it. Sure, it was nice looking, and probably made good shelter, but it was obscenely claustrophobic for him. He needed fresh air, the grass and trees- not a cramped little cave made by man. Bagheera never even liked going into the wolves' dens- this was just unbearable.

So instead, Bagheera had dedicated the last few days to exploring the trees in the area, trying to find where he'll set up his new territory. He'd spent the first couple nights in trees outside of Vista Way, in the park, outside the greenhouse... all over the place.

Bagheera tends to wake up right around the time dawn breaks. If you happen to be an early riser, you might just get a very sleepy leopard leaping down to the ground from the trees over your head. Don't worry, he missed.

On Thursday afternoon, Bagheera heads over to the Animal Kingdom. His first shift as... "security" starts tomorrow, and he wants to scope out the area. Truthfully, he's also pretty hopeful that he'll get to talk with other animals, here. After all, it is called "Animal Kingdom".

Keep your eyes peeled, and you'll find Bagheera either exploring the Safari or peering into one of the enclosures, deep in conversation:]

Really now? And you put up with this? But why?

[Later, Bagheera can be found wearing... a very ill fitting uniform, that was definitely not made for wild cats in mind. He's also got a shiny little badge! How long did it take Bagheera to get that thing on? Don't worry about it. He's here now, and he's a little surly.

He's patrolling around the Kingdom and he's got his eyes peeled and his ears sharp for anything suspicious in the slightest.So don't, like, break the law or anything, I guess. Unless you really want to.

If you happen to be a law-abiding citizen, he may approach you anyway.]

Excuse me- have you seen anything suspicious around here? Anything at all?

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[Della still hasn't actually finished training for her job. Not completely, at least. She's gotten good enough at the whole driving part, sure, but talking while driving is a lot more difficult. During actual rides she's supposedly going to be paired up with someone, to let one person drive and the other talk and all that. But luckily, she's still got today so can get some practice in doing both simultaneously-- no need to worry about disappointing the guests if there's not any guests around to disappoint. It's early enough today before the park opens that there's only a couple other new employees driving around for practice, too, so that's an added bonus.

All in all, it's pretty boring as far as practice goes-- for the most part, that is. At one point along the track as she's spieling to herself, she can't help but notice the (very obvious) panther in the middle of a bunch of lions.

There's. Definitely not supposed to be any panthers on the Safaris, is there? She doesn't think so.

Slowing the truck to a careful stop, she quickly radios any other workers, mostly for the sake of anyone who happens to be driving around this morning as well, just to give herself some distance from them (and some time to check things out)--]

Uh... animal on the road...? Going to be stuck here for a while. Sorry!

[--and then she leans forward out of one of the windows, squinting and hazarding a guess as she calls over towards the large cats.]

Bagheera?

[Bagheera had only paid slight attention to the approaching safari vehicle- the lions had already told him it was a regular occurence, and he didn't see much reason to distrust their logic. The sound of a familiar voice calling his name, however, got him to sit up quickly, and before long Bagheera weaves through the small group of lions to get a better look at her.]

Della? Good to see you again- how are you? And why are you driving... uh- [He glances back to one of the lions. After a moment, he looks back to Della.] Right, a "safari bus"?

Oh, great! I'm actually just doing training-- I, uh, work here? I'm a tour guide.

[Any other time she'd gladly gush about how much she already likes the job (when Rod said 'work' she thought it meant, you know, food service or retail or something boring, so she's beyond thrilled to get to do something like this). As it is this time, though, she's more busy being confused about. Well. Several things?

First of all, how did he even get in here (did somebody let him in?), and furthermore what he's even trying to achieve. He doesn't actually... seem to know that much about the whole point of the tours.]

What're you doing in the lion enclosure?

You work here too, then? I suppose we'll get to see each other rather regularly, then. My job is "security", apparently.

Oh, the lions and I were just discussing the goings-on in this place. Nothing too important, just thought I should get to know the locals around here, especially if I am to be guarding the place.

Security, huh? You probably would be pretty good at scaring off potential troublemakers. Guess we'll be seeing each other around more often than we thought!

[just throw an actual panther at people

But as amusing as the thought of Bagheera as a security officer is, her smile is quickly pushed out of the way by bewildered blinking. No one had ever mentioned the lions talking before, but it scans to reason that if Bagheera can talk then every other animal ought to as well. Maybe they're just shy around... animals with two legs...?]

The lions can talk? [She looks between them and Bagheera a couple of times.] ...Are they talking right now?

Hopefully, hopefully- if I'm quite honest, I'm not entirely sure what's expected of me. Am I to just wander around and hope I find someone breaking the rules?

Yes, of course they can- you...

[Bagheera stops, suddenly very confused.]

You can't hear them?

[During this whole conversation, the lions have been chatting amongst themselves about Della- her size compared to the waterfowl they're used to, her human clothing, her "hair", the fact that she's driving a safari- at least one young cub asked her mother if she could drive a bus when she's older. They haven't exactly been keeping their voices low, either.]

[She just waves a hand at that, cheerfully dismissing the concern.]

I'm sure somebody will be around to teach you eventually! Or at least answer your questions? I mean, this place is pretty well-managed, despite... well, everything. You'll do great!

[She's sure it's not complicated, anyways. Probably mostly involves tackling people who try to litter or... something. She's never paid much attention to security guards.

Della only shakes her head in confirmation at the question.]

And no, not at all! Why can I hear you but not them?

[Can't wait for Bagheera's first day of work to involve something obscenely difficult, like stopping a murder during a jewel robbery]

That's- huh. [Bagheera glances back at the lions uncertainly.] They say they always talk plenty to the safari guides, but the safari guides never respond. Tourists don't talk to them, either...

I don't know. I don't know why you can't hear them. They understand you just fine...

[Bagheera is having a bit of a crisis]

That's... kind of disappointing. And it... really doesn't make any sense.

[Try as she might, she can't figure out the thought process behind only Bagheera being able to talk when every other animal could talk to him just fine. Then again, she still doesn't fully understand why some animals are kept on a safari or in an enclosure while other animals work in said areas.

It makes her head hurt to try and map out the logic involved, so instead she focuses on. Well. Just the translation aspect. It's kind of the smaller of the two problems.]

Maybe there's some kind of translation process involved with our bands?

Perhaps? I can't imagine why only I would be allowed to communicate with the rest of you. I suppose it could be part of why they're allowed to just hang out around here and not work.

The lions say that they've been here for quite a while, and they're excited to have new friends around.

Might be something to ask the mayor about. It doesn't really seem fair, but... I guess if they're happy...?

[She doesn't know, she really just can't see the thought process involved in this decision but... things seem to be working out right now, so?]

Do they really not mind our trucks driving around here all day? I was thinking it might get annoying. And tourists can be pretty loud.

They certainly sound happy, from what they've told me- no worries, no responsibilities, free meals and around the clock care... Still, it's a little unnerving.

They find the tourists funny to watch, more than anything, and they're all accustomed to the sound of the trucks.

A Hard Working Jungle Cat

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