shellphones | [video] Searching for parents

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[video] Searching for parents

[ Emet-Selch looks a little harried and stressed today when the video feed begins. There is a little axolotl clinging to a front lock of his hair, gently chewing. He either doesn't notice or doesn't care as there is urgency to his gaze and tone. ]

Should anyone encounter a pair of ambystomae - I mean, axolotls - with a carnivorous tendency, please abstain from killing them immediately and inform me of their location. I need to return their child to them.

[ This won't stop anyone killing the many axolotls involved in the search but he has to hope he finds the parents before they're accidentally killed. ]

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Is that what they were looking for.

[SO. DEADPAN.]

Aye, so I presume. Unfortunately the little one stowed away on our ship and we did not realise until we were well away from its home.

Edited 2025-07-05 01:11 (UTC)

Hn.

I encountered a pair, but I was unable to determine what they were after before they attacked me. [He doesn't elaborate for the moment, but there's a Heavy implication there.]

However, I have heard reports of further killings. Perhaps there are multiple pairs.

[ He sighs and kneads his forehead with a knuckle. ]

They must have brought others of the tribe with them. If they're all slaughtered before we can return the child, the situation may worsen.

Unreasonable as they are, you will likely need to find them while bringing the child. And they strike me as the sort who will still attempt to slaughter you after recovery.

What is your plan?

My hope is that the child will pause their slaughter and encourage them to return home. If they still show signs of aggression even after we return their child, then...

[ He trails off with a grimace. ]

Then?

[~~Say it, coward.~~]

[ He shrugs, frowning at the infant axolotl as he tries to encourage it to latch on to his finger instead of his hair. ]

Then I will kill them. But for my friend's sake, I would rather not.

[Well, at least he's willing to admit it. +1/100000000 respect.]

You would prefer not to start a war. Understandable. Perhaps capturing, then, is more logical.

[...]

I was not aware that you also engaged in the practice of babyminding on this star, Emet-Selch.

[Sorry, he might be just a little bit amused?]

What is the story behind you finding this little one?

[ That's not funny, Joshua!! ]

We encountered an island of ambystoma folk which tried to eat us. After we fled, we discovered this child had stowed away on our ship. It was too late to sail back and return it.

[It's ... kind of funny.]

Well then, if that is how it is, the child is yours now.

Best of luck and congratulations, father.

[ >:( ]

Do not-- Don't call me that.

[ He looks disgruntled. And not a little bit pained. ]

The child's people have come looking for them. I fear they will massacre and eat whoever gets in their way.

[Beat has no idea what an axolotl is, but there was something else he was 100% sure of.]

Yo, you got somethin' on your face.

Yes... I'm aware.

[ He sighs, lifting his hands to try and gently coax the axolotl off chewing his hair. ]

It likes to hone its teeth on anything it can find.

You try gettin' it a toy instead?

[Sorry, Emet. He'd absolutely going to use dog logic on an axolotl.]

I considered it, until I learnt that the parents may be searching for their child. There wouldn't be any point to buying it a toy to chew on now.

[ His poor hair... The axolotl is very fixated until one of his fingers strays too close. Then it immediately latches on to that instead. ]

Might still be good to get it one. Jus' so it don't eat you or nothin'.

[This is far more amusing to watch than Beat every would've thought. Even when he tries to stop himself, he can't stifle a laugh.]

Looks like he's gettin' close, yo.

[ He heaves an even deeper sigh. ]

You may be right. Hythlodaeus and I had hoped that we might be able to raise this little one differently but I suppose its instincts are too strong.

[He doesn't know what that word was, and he's not going to ask!]

They really supposed to act like that? Ain't ever seen somethin' like that before.

[ He watches the axolotl baby, latched on to his finger, gamely try to break through skin with its small teeth. ]

Their kind seem to be a race of carnivores. They are still aquatic but far more aggressive. The species I am familiar with are freshwater dwellers which most certainly do not eat people.

Never woulda thought something that looks like that would be a... carnival. [No that doesn't sound... right.] Don't look like they eat people.

[There we go.]

Prob'ly gotta help the little guy get back to where it lives.

...I can't say I've seen them but I'll keep a look-out.

[Kaveh pauses for a very long moment.]

I'm going to assume this kidnapping was accidental?

It stowed away on our ship. We didn't find it until we were too far to turn back.

[ They only had so much food and fresh water for the voyage. ]

That's...[Kaveh sighs a little.] Well, that's unfortunate.

I'll warn Alhaitham and our crew but I can't promise they won't try to defend themselves if they can't be communicated with. [Kaveh pauses for a moment, chewing on his lip.]

I suppose if there was an easy way to locate them, you'd have already done it?

[Because he really, really doesn't want this to end in tragedy any more than Emet does.]

They were not particularly communicative. All their children were swimming in the shallows, so they could have belonged to any of the grown individuals which confronted us. I won't fault you for defending yourselves; my friend and I did not escape without injury.

You didn't?

[That's alarming. Kaveh remembers the fight with Ultima. He has some idea how powerful Emet-Selch must be.

...Though watching the axolotl crawl all over him, maybe he just has a soft spot for amphibians.]

[ He shrugs, grimacing slightly. ]

My friend can hold his own in battle but he was never meant for the front lines, so to speak. I would usually take the fore and he would support me with his bow. Hence, I bore the brunt of the assault as we retreated to our ship.

I don't suppose that is likely the reason that they are here in the first place?

Unfortunately, it may indeed be the reason they are here.

Hmm. I will keep on the lookout for these missing children.

Do you have any further details?

[ He points to the axolotl hanging off his hair. ]

This is the missing child. I should hope there weren't more which stowed away on our ship that have since absconded.

[ Although sending an army of warriors does seem a little excessive for one child... ]

[ He's placing a hand over his mouth so that Emet-Selch cannot see his smile nor his laughter. ]

Mayhap your new friend is someone of import.

I sincerely hope not.

[ Please, he doesn't want to be accused of stealing the princely-equivalent of a man-eating fish thing. ]

The adults are aggressive and will likely try to attack and eat you if you see them.

Oh hello!! [ she might be talking to the axolotl, sorry rip her bright purple eyes are filled with both curiosity and adoration ]

Where did your friend come from?

[ The axolotl IS cute. And bitey. Mostly bitey. But also cute. ]

From a remote island my friend and I encountered on our search for Elah. These creatures were the sole inhabitants.

Oh no! That must be very lonely.

[ both now and then. She knows what it's like, in a few ways. ]

Maybe it wanted to see more of the world. Then realized it's a big place away from it's island

[ A deep sigh. ]

Perhaps. But I don't think it feels daunted at all by the journey. If anything, it seems perfectly content to eat and explore.

[ He pokes the axolotl in the stomach. It wiggles breifly but opens its mouth and drops into his waiting hands. Keeping a secure but gentle hold on the creature, he shows it to her. ]

They are carnivores it seems. I do not want to imagine what will happen if the adults are left to terrorise the population.

I would want to eat and explore too if I was it!

Do you think reuniting then will prevent terrorizing?

What order of carnivore do they happen to be? From your words, I take it you do not mean the typical diet of the creation...

[Erichthonios has not seen the notice yet. He's still getting his bearings here.]

They eat manflesh. I assume they partake of whatever ocean life they can hunt as well since they are a saltwater species.

A saltwater, apex predator ambystoma... and the parents searching after their lost child would suggest a degree of social bonding within the species.

How interesting. But, a-ah, rather dangerous as well given our present circumstances. The bipedal sharks were trouble enough.

I shall inform you if I see any of its kind.

Please do. They aren't terribly communicative even if they show intelligence. A product of their isolation and diet, I imagine.

[ One doesn't really try to converse with their meals. ]

Those chains you demonstrated earlier will be of use.

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