Log: Planning to Move

Location: Boniface Estates - Dining Room
Characters: Merick, Simon, Jenner and Jonathan

As light began to fade as the sun began its decent through the evening sky, its warmth fading as the cool breeze whispered through the trees, the stars in the night sky began to emerge as the night life began to creep from the shadows. At this time, the Boniface Estate light up like a slow burning candle in the dark. To the average person, it was nothing more than a typical common night occurrence. However, things are not always what they may appear to be… That house was far from stagnant. Rats and mice were scurrying through this vacant home but these are not your ordinary rodents. Having escaped from NIMH, these rats and mice had a special gift, one that was thought only to have been granted to humans. These rodents were intelligent. As such, they knew they could not live like this for too long and began to plan their next move.

"I'm really kind of worried about this whole moving thing. I mean, sure. We're a lot smarter than we were when we escaped but..." Pausing, Merick let out a soft sigh as he looked towards the rodent he was talking with. "I'm not too positive on this whole thing... I'm glad though that we're finally getting together to talk about it more officially though. I hear we're trying to find a group of rodents that would want to explore this place some of the rats found on a map..."

Simon sits close to Merick and nods a little, scritching behind his ear. "Well, we can't stay here forever, I guess. And it'd be nice to be someplace we can call our own. I don't know about you, but living above ground never felt quite right to me." He stretches. "All this, making us soft."

Jenner sat in deep contemplation at the idea of moving and finding a permenant residence. "Well," he began, "We do need to find a place we can call home and that has access to a good food source. Who knows what kind of predators we would find on a farm. We were street rats after all, living amongst humans. Nothing can be worse than that. We got to remember that despite our intelligence, we /are/ rats. We are very adaptable, and we shouldn't let our guard down because of some intelligence."

"It all seems rather inevitable, if you ask me." says Jonathan quietly. The mouse currently leans against one of the dining room table's legs, somewhat haphazardly attempting to stitch together some scavenged cloth he had found with a small but still human-sized needle. "The best anyone can do is hope for the best and prepare for the worst." The mouse furrows his brow a bit, laying the half-stitched article on the ground and eyeing it a bit. "As the humans who altered us are without doubt looking for us, it would behoove us to conceal ourselves. Perhaps there is a way to do that at the farm, and perhaps not, but we have to try -something-, at least."

Merick lets out a small sigh and nods his head as more and more rodents started to gather around, a few of them still chewing on bits of dinner that were left over. "It's true. We can't stay here very long, can we? So then, I guess the next question is who should go and explore the farm? I mean, we can't all leave at once. If we did that, it'd be suicidal. We need to keep the majority of us here to watch over us. I've done some thinking and well... I'd like to head out. I've been studying medicine and I think I could be of some use. I just wonder though, who's going to head all of this."

Simon grins a bit at Jonathan. "I think we could swing it. Been reading up on tunnel-digging and domes; it sounds like if we use the right sort of techniques, we could dig out something pretty large and elaborate without any human even knowing we were there." He shrugs a little at Merick. "I wouldn't mind going. How many volunteers are they looking for, do you know?" He turns to Jenner and asks, "You're friends with Nicodemus, right? Have you heard anything?"
Jenner fixes Simon with a stern gaze and sneers a bit. "Why not ask that Jonathan mouse you were grinning at a moment ago? He's Nicodemus' favorite now. I rarely speak to the old man anymore, for your information." Jenner pauses and looks at the other rodents with a rictus. "Given how lavishly Nicodemus has chosen to live, he wouldn't dare go survey this farm himself. It's too dirty for him. Too posh he has become, sitting and reading about philosophy and metaphysics." He then turns to face Simon, scowling. "You go ask him yourself. As for right now, I have little faith that he'll be productive in our society besides barking the occasional order. I'm heading for bed, or do you have anymore insidious questions regarding my relationship with Nicodemus?"

Jonathan quirks a brow a bit at Jenner's outburst, then shrugs and continues to work on what is starting to look like a crude brown vest. "I've honestly not heard much from him about it myself. I imagine though, that there is a good reason for his withdrawn behavior of late." the mouse offers, whiskers splaying as he weaves the large needle carefully through the scraps of fabric.

Merick tilts his head as he listens to Jonathan and Jenner, "Nicodemus? To be honest, I haven't heard much from him myself. He's kind of been somewhat of a mysterious figure for me." He gives a bit of a nod towards Jenner as he leans back a bit. "I see. Well, I won't lie. I've been a bit skeptical of him myself but I won't make any calls on his motives just yet I think. Sorry if... something was said that bothered you but do try to have a nice rest. It sounds like we're going to need plenty of that." He turns to Simon as he ponders. "From what I've heard, anyone that's willing at this point. It's not sounding like they have too many rodents wanting to go out to the farm. They're a bit fearful. You've been studying architecture, right? I'm sure that could be useful." He glances at a clock on the wall and hums softly. "I might be heading to bed myself here. It's starting to get late and the way things are going, I wouldn't be surprised if we were to head out tomorrow."

Simon blinks a little at Jenner. "It was just a question," he mutters. He draws a breath as if to say more, but after a moment, just shakes his head. "Um, no. Go ahead if you'd like." He nods a little to Jonathan, giving a little sigh and a shrug. "Well, hopefully he understands how important it is to keep everyone informed, at least." To Merick he nods and adds, "Yeah, I'll have to ask around. If they're going to be digging out a new home, it'd make sense to have someone who knows what to look for. As for bed, eh. I'll probably stay up a bit. Read, if nothing else."

Jenner decides to head out to bed. His thoughts are towards Nicodemus. Truly he used to view him with utmost respect. He couldn't help but think if he, himself, was causing the rift between himself and Nicodemus. He thought to himself: "He's the one putting silly nonsense before the community!" At the same time, there was a pang of guilt that rose within him. The last couple of times he chatted with Nicodemus were little pleasantries, nothing more. Before the capture by NIMH, they would talk what would appear to be hours on simple things. "Simple things," he thought again, "That's his problem, he's focusing on too grand a scale, a scale we could never possibly be a part of. We're fugitives...and...." Sunddely a realization came through Jenner. "He wants us to someday come in contact with those...humans." He shook his head. "This is too much, too many assumptions." He yawned, laying down on a piece of brown fabric with a crude pillow on the top end. "I must speak with Nicodemus myself, any misunderstandings can be sorted out another time. Right now, it's time for rest." He closed his eyes and began to dream...

Jonathan blinks a few times, a soft yawn escaping him as he tugs the needle through and ties off the end of the thread, peering at his work tiredly before clumsily slipping the crude vest about his shoulders. "Mm.. it'll do." he says quietly to himself, then nods to Simon. "I'm sure he does.. but in any case, I shall try to consult with him in the morning. I need to get his advice about my participation in this plan, if I can."

Pushing himself up on his hind legs, Merick stretches and gives off a yawn. "It's been delightful talking with you guys and I hope that all this moving business passes over without any trouble but I'm afraid I should rest now. Rest well the two of you." With that, the rat starts to make his way out of the dining room. Before leaving he pauses and smiles back at Jonathan, "By the way Jonathan, nice vest. I'd say it looks rather nice on you."

Despite Simon's intentions to stay up, the yawning is contagious enough that he can't quite stifle one of his own. "Heh. I hope so too," he replies to Merick. "G'night, Merick." He tilts his head at Jonathan a bit, he himself not wearing more than the fur he'd been born in. "Clothing?"

Jonathan smiles softly to Merick, offering a polite nod as the rat passes. "Rest well. And, thanks, heh. I can't say it looks exactly like I had wanted it to, but it seems functional enough." At this he turns his attention to Simon. "I thought it might provide extra protection from the elements..." The mouse trails off for a moment. "And, well, I wanted to see if I could do it." he finishes.

Simon scritches himself behind his ear with his hind leg. "Hrm. Guess it might at that. I dunno, always figured fur was enough. Clothing's something I've only ever seen humans wear." He pauses, realizing he might be sounding overly critical. "Er, but yes, it does look all right. You did a good job on it."

"Huh.. I suppose that could be true." Jonathan says, leaning back against the table leg again. "It was an interesting project though, and I have to say, I kind of like it." he says, offering a friendly smile and a nod to Simon's complement as he wanders in the general direction of where he sleeps, still mostly on all fours for the time being. "Perhaps I could try to make these for others. Though the going is a bit slow. For now at least, I think I'll call it a night." he says, stifling another yawn.

Simon grins at the mouse. "Maybe I'll give it a try myself sometime. G'night, then." He gives another brief stretch then heads off to the library.