Event Finished monsters calling home

@Thoth

The island sure had a lot of celebrations going on. There was a festival for absolutely everything and, coming from a culture that had a very scant few, he found it a bit overwhelming to have to put things aside for yet another party. But he did need to attend; he was the ambassador for an entire species and a king no less. It simply looked bad if he didn't at least show his face at important events.

Of course, he had to drag Nicolas with him.

At least the place smelled nice. Over the almost overwhelming stench of a hoard of humans, there was the scent of flowers. He could imagine the pretty purple-pink flowers blooming everywhere was responsible for that; the namesake of the festival saved his sense of smell at least. Being around a few humans was fine, perhaps even a small room of them. But a whole crowd, all jostling and bumping against each other? No.

Ulrich was standing just at the edges of the stall area, where people hawked their wares. He didn't look too impressed but then again, his face was fixed in a permanent scowl most of the time.

"So what's this festival about?" He gestured vaguely to the crowd, the stage, the stalls... There were few 'festivals' like this among Panthalassians, except to celebrate the ruler's birthday, special occasions like the birth of an heir and the new moon.

@Thoth

Ulrich wrinkled his nose slightly when Nicolas told him there was really no huge significance behind the festival. Humans just seemed awfully frivolous like that, celebrating things that had no value or real effect on their life. Flowers looking nice that particular day? Let's celebrate it! Augh, it was exhausting.

Uneventful, but exhausting.

"We don't have to stay for long, if that's the case." He just needed to show his face so it looked like he participated. That wasn't too bad, now was it? He turned towards the crowd as if observing them, his shoulders squared and his chest slightly puffed out. He looked downright regal, as a king should.

That was, until a loud what the hell!? was heard through the crowd. There were some people moving or jumping out of the way of something quickly skittering through and around legs. Whatever the thing was, it had way too many legs and was about the size of a dog. It beelined right towards them.

@Thoth

The thing came closer, moving a little too fast. It had too many legs and whenever it hit the ground, there was a very distinctive clicking noise as if a pebble was dropping on cobblestone. It did end up bumping into a few legs on the way and, as it drew nearer, Ulrich could begin making out what it was. Of course that probably wouldn't stop Nicolas' nervousness.

Finally, the thing came skittering to a stop in front of his bodyguard. Two beady black eyes on short stalks stared up at Nicolas as if viewing something foreign. It had a heavily armoured body and all its limbs - eight legs and two clawed arms - were equally protected. There were protrusions, like horns that spiked the armour and thick, jagged claws that looked like they could make short work of stones. Barnacles studded the exoskeleton.

Not to mention, the creature was the size of a German shepherd.

It continued to stare up at Nicolas for another minute, not moving from its place near his feet. Definitely a mixture of curiousity and confusion, it's mouthparts flapping soundlessly before it leaned to the side. Its many legs balanced it as it almost seemed to peer around Nicolas' legs and up at Ulrich.

The crablike creature raised its claws and clicked them excitedly in the air, making a high pitched gurgling noise.

@Thoth

Ulrich didn't seem alarmed. In fact, his body language took a hundred and eighty degree turn. His shoulders relaxed and expression softened around the edges until he didn't quite look actively grumpy anymore. Actually, he seemed almost... happy to see the crab monster that had so unceremoniously stumbled right up to his feet.

The king stepped around Nicolas, leaning down to scoop up the beast in his arms with a faint grunt. Gravity on land pulled down on everything, and it wasn't like the creature was light as a feather in the first place, either. The crab wrapped its multiple legs around Ulrich's sides, its claws clicking happily in the air and, maybe most disturbing of all, it continued to emit that guttural, squealing noise. It sounded like nails against chalkboard, or metal scraping against concrete.

"Yes. This is Luca." The creature turned a little in Ulrich's arms to stare right up at Nicolas with those same unblinking, beady black eyes. "My heir apparent, the current prince of the seven seas."

A giant crab creature was the future of the Panthalassian people. He'd surely grow much bigger than he was now; he was only a toddler, barely older than a four or five year old when compared to humans. It would be a while yet before he was ready to take on anything.

Ulrich gave his son a loving pat on the head before glancing around, his expression shifting from something oddly paternal to the same scowl he usually wore. "And of course where the baby swims, the mother would surely follow."

@Thoth

Luca seemed quite fascinated by this stranger and wriggled in his father's arms, one claw reaching out and pinching in the air as if wanting to grab at Nicolas' hair. If he did manage it, a tuft would likely be pinched right off. His claws were sharp, befitting for a prince.

"She looks quite human when she wants to me. Like me, she will shift form on land." And her true form was equally monsterous. Her human form however... Attractive, which was what got him into this problem in the first place.

And, speak of the devil, she was coming right now. Emma was quite the imposing looking woman, partially because of her height and partially because she liked to saunter around in the bare minimum of publicly acceptable clothing. Their hatred of clothing seemed to be the only thing they had in common.

"There you are!" She beelined towards them, her mood obviously afoul now that she had to deal with the father of her child and, might she add, sworn enemy.