DATE: September 8 - October 7, 2001 CAST: Basil, Gresham, Paco andWalter Scroungers' Warehouse A texture of powerful odors threatens to overwhelm the senses of those who are unused to them. You can see crevices containing food of some sort--old cheese puffs, coffee beans, dried Spam, and more--a revolting sight for all but the most starved or steeled. But that's not all: there are also oddities like tin foil, paper, string, sequins, and even an occasional human trinket. This must be some kind of warehouse. There are several tough-looking bugs hired to guard these valuables, keeping an eye on all that transpires. Quite a contrast to that scrawny little leafhopper over there, who studiously shuffles through papers on his matchbox desk. Shuffle. Shuffle. Flap. Crumple. It looks as though most of the action is on Gresham's desk at the moment. As usual, the leafhopper is situated behind his match box, his blank gaze poring over the various papers, marking things off with a pen of some kind. Hefting a couple of pretty good sized cracker crumbs, Basil manages his way toward Gresham's desk, hoping it won't take too long for him to take notice. The thin beige ant has managed to get a certain degree of strength back, but still needs time to return to a certain degree of nominal health. "I've managed a couple of saltines, Gresham." Pants Basil as he awaits further orders of his boss. "These appear to be in particularly good shape." Is then offered with a determined degree of enthusiasm. Close in second is Walter, bearing an armload of dark brown crumbs of an unidentifiable source. He halts in front of the desk and releases his load, stacking them on the floor precariously. Wiping off a sheen of perspiration with his arm, the ant offers, "I'm not sure what these are. I'm guessing they're edible." Sometimes, scrounging up exactly what's shown on the list can result in nothing but hardscrabble. A brief buzzing sound indicates a new arrival -- Paco enters the warehouse, lugging behind him a silvery wrapper of some kind about twice his size. His wings buzz into action every few steps as he tries to move more quickly, but the large weight he's carrying just won't allow him to get airborne. The mosquito heaves an exasperated sigh and resigns himself to trudging along without the help of his wings. "Man!" he mutters to himself. "Next time go for the *bean*!" Gresham glances up sharply as all these bugs suddenly come in with their deliveries. It's always like that... long intervals of dead quiet, then, boom! An influx of activity. He quickly shifts his attention from the paperwork to the ants, and leans over his desk to peer at their offerings. He scratches his head. "Hmm, hmm, hmm... yes, yes..." He swipes up some more papers, and makes a few scribbling notes, keeping on eye on it and another on the deliveries. "All right then, I'll just calculate this, and..." his gaze twitches toward the buzzing sound. Seeing Paco enter, he picks up yet another piece of paper. Basil decides it's just as well to set the cracker crumbs to the ground, by the desk just as Walter did. He stands and listens to the comments of Paco, which causes him to crack a genuine smile then to hear the mumbling of the boss. Which he's naturally come to expect. I'st about this point in the day that Basil molls around in his mind what can be done with the rest of the evening. Certainly not drinking alcohol by any means, which He's sworn off for the rest of his life. No more self induced headaches. Walter merely stands off to the side passively, eyes half-lidded as he glances down whilst Gresham makes note of their latest acquisitions. His antennae twitch vaguely at the sound of Paco's entrance, but the only other reaction offered is to step aside and give Paco room to let Gresham have a closer look at the candy wrapper. Paco drags his load over to the Gresham's desk, grunting slightly with the effort. After he lets the large wrapper rest on the ground, the boy allows his shoulders to slump. "Here it goes, Gresham...boss," Paco pronounces the leafhopper's name with a thick Spanish accent. He gives Gresham a little grin. Okay...so he's still a little rusty on pronouncing his boss's name. If Gresham notices the less than perfect pronunciation of his name, he doesn't show it. But then, his expression rarely reverts from its mostly bland quality. He looks over the wrapper studiously, and bends over another paper, making some kind of note. The leafhopper gingerly places it back on the desk and rubs his round eyes tiredly. "Thank you, it's all noted..." He gestures at some of the insects patrolling the area to take the new items in front of his desk store them in the appropriate piles. They do so. So, it would seem that it's the end of another day, or so assumes Basil as the items are collected. It's now just a matter of being dismissed by Gresham and for he and Walter to head back to Terry's place for dinner. "Oh." Is muttered as he lifts his arms high into the air and gives them a good stretch. Then he pokes his feet out in front of him, and one at a time flexes them as well. "Oh, nothing like a good day at work" Then adds in his mind. ' Well, this was probably nothing like one, but you can't be too picky'. Basil then takes a passig glance toward Paco, who's accent has constantly been a source of fascination. Walter closes his eyes and rubs his forehead absently. Judging from his flagging shoulders and antennae standing in a less than attentive fashion, he didn't consider the day's work particularly good -- tolerable at best. Apparently the ant assumes he's been dismissed already, and slowly trods away from the desk. Paco stands by with a little smile, his fingers tapping rapidly against his thorax with anticipation. Maybe he's a little restless, but he can't help it -- this is the way he always gets come pay day. As Walter begins to walk away, Paco glances at the ant incredulously. Huh. Where's he goin'? Gresham doesn't even bother acknowledging Paco's behavior, really - if he hasn't gotten used to it by now, the leafhopper never will. He takes his time studying the three papers he has devoted most of his attention on since the ants and mosquito entered, and does some final addition - the regular pay in addition to the approximate worth of the latest items they brought in. Then he puts them away in a drawer (yes, the match box did get drawers installed, amazingly enough). The leafhopper gets up and ambles toward what appears to be a locked box, guarded by an especially grumpy-looking bug. Why the thing needs guarding becomes apparent when Gresham retrieves some currency, and wanders back over to his desk. He divides it up, and starts giving the crisp new bills to the workers - blinking when he realizes Walter isn't there. "Ah... Walter? I assume you don't want to leave without your pay?" Basil passes a glance at the soon departing Walter contemplates; Poor Walter, he's still pretty out of it, as far as getting his health and energy back. Then acceptance of the pay is made in an energetic yet polite manner. "Thank you." Is articulated deeply by Basil as he receives his wages. But he then can't help but give out a little chuckle at Gresham's comment, probably not loud enough for anyone, or at least Walter to hear. A solemn shake of the head is given as his poor friend is so wiped out, he can't keep his mind on receiving his earnings, but keeps his comments to himself. For some strange reason, Walter is having more trouble adjusting to a life where he gets paid for his work and has freedom to do what he wants on his off time than when it was just the opposite. Perhaps it's due to a more unpredictable environment - or maybe he's just anxious about, oh, ant-eating insects and bounty hunters. In any event, he's not getting into the routine here. He comes to stop as he hears Gresham's query, shoulders sinking. Heaving a sigh, he turns around and trudges back over to the desk, as if this is purely obligatory, and accepts his pay. Paco grins widely as he accepts his pay and begins to count it, murmuring the numbers under his breath. When that's done, he shoots a grin over to Walter and chuckles slightly. "Man, joo must be..." He searches for the right word...how do you say... "...bushed!" The mosquito then grins to the ant's companion, whose name he can't quite remember. Well. Now that that's out of the way, he can safely wrap up the rest of this here paperwork stuff... joy. Gresham nods to the scroungers and lowers his head to regard the stuff littered across his desk in a system of organization that only the leafhopper understands - and so far, it seems to work. It takes a bit of thinking, but Basil too has to admit that 'getting paid' is after all a rather unusual event. Ants in ant colonies don't exactly get paid, but it is something Basil has heard of. "Yeah, it's been a kinda rough going." Comments Basil as to whether he was being spoken to or not is stated. He then awaits Walter to get his income and proceeds toward the exit with the intent of getting dinner. Something that can become a foremost thought on you mind when some of the things you're dragging around are edible. "I wonder what Terry's got going for dinner tonight?" Inquires of Basil, not really assuming Walter would know, just a vocalized contemplation. A side-glance is given to Paco, in addition to a cautious nod, but that's all Walter offers in return for his observation. He accompanies Basil toward the exit, his pay gripped firmly in one hand - which he has yet to count. Gray-green eyes blink at the other ant's question. "Probably the usual," he replies. Yup... the grasshopper may have been nice enough to give them food and shelter, but the variety leaves much to be desired. Paco begins to walk after the Basil and Walter, taking long strides in that good 'ol mosquito fashion. He doesn't catch much of the ants' conversation, but there is one word he does pick up -- dinner. "Hungry?" He asks neither ant in particular, patting his own stomach. "Ah, yeah... I could go for a beeg bowl of Abuela's soup tonight." He doesn't seem to notice that the ants might not feel like conversing with him, but then he's in a rather jovial mood after being paid. By now, Gresham completely tunes out the others. Even the mere mention of dinner escapes his notice. Perhaps, in his utter devotion to the clerical aspects of this scrounging business, he forgot what food was for... other than making sure it gets delivered, that is. "Well, yeah. That's true same stuff again, I'm sure." Comments Basil as he catches the folly of his question. Maybe it's just hope for a little variety. But in the long run, it would never be in his personality to complain about the offerings given to them so generously by Terry. He is just about out the door when the comments made by Paco reach his antennae. "Soup. I haven't had a good soup in quite a while" is mumbled in a rather absentminded way. Walter simply nods, neither particularly enthusiastic nor disappointed by what is probably there to greet them, food-wise. He blinks, just as he comprehends Paco's words. Well, mostly. There's that one he doesn't quite understand. "... Abuela?" Paco chuckles in amusement at Walter's inquiry -- these would be country ants, no doubt. "Abuela... my *grand-mother*." His smile takes on a dreamy quality as he thinks about dinner...he's famished. "She always makes the same theeng, but tonight I don't think I mind it." Now there is something that hasn't crossed Basil's mind in some time. In fact, with everything he's gone through, his family has been the last thing to think of, little alone relatives. He's caught up into feelings of being so distantly removed. It adds an additional degree of homesickness that he hasn't felt to this level. Not another word is mentioned as he becomes lost in thought. "... Oh." ... There's no place like home there's no place like home there's no... Walter tries to extricate his mind from a new train of thought this response aroused, which are probably not unlike Basil's. The ant sets his jaw firmly as he glances away, attempting to coax his brain back to the 'here and now.' There is no going back home, anyway. Ouch...the responses Paco gets aren't quite the ones he anticipated. The 'skeeter blinks, and his expression turns solemn. "Oh, I'm sorry, man...I didn't mean anytheeng by it." He frowns, his wings buzzing for just a second. Basil comes to a complete stop as he hears Paco's sympathetic apology. 'What am I doing?' he declares to himself inwardly. 'I know the last few months have been less than ideal... Oh who am I fooling, they're just about the worst I've been through. But no matter what happens I can't go back, and dwelling on it isn't going to change anything." A quick rotation on his heels places Basil face to face with the mosquito. "Oh, don't worry about it, Paco. It's not like I'm any closer to my family here than at my last colony. Besides, it's been well over a year since I've seen them." To which is reiterated in his mind. 'Besides, it *is* my fault that I can't return anyway.' Blink. Walter regards the mosquito obliquely, perhaps taken aback by the apology if anything. It's a rare enough occurance. Eyes downcast, he scratches his nape unthinkingly. "Yeah," he puts in, "right. Nothing... nothing to be sorry about." "Ah." Paco frowns slightly as he listens to the ants' responses, unconsciously fingering the bills in his hand. The mosquito can't help but feel sympathy for these little bugs. They look so downcast. And... they look rather thin, too, Paco notices, as Walter speaks up. His eyes widen momentarily as he experiences a small inspiration. "Hey...joo guys look like joo could use some good food." The young mosquito brightens - perhaps this will cheer them up. "Why don't joo come over to my place for some dinner, huh?" A wide smile is given with this invitation. "Actually," begins Basil as his consciousness is brought back to the present. "It might be a nice change of pace." Indigo blue optics brighten significantly as the offer is made. "Thanks, Paco. That's, dang! That's really nice of you to offer." A bright beaming smile is made in response. While it certainly is a pleasant change of pace, as well as a change in the menu, it's the generous offer that touches him the most. A dumbfounded Walter has been temporarily rendered speechless. A dinner invitation. Just another one of those items last on his list of Things to Expect. "Um..." Insert big pause here. "Sure. Thanks- I dunno what to say." Paco grins widely, pleased to see these two ants brighten. Well, at least one of them. "Excelente!" the 'skeeter proclaims, swinging out a hand in an attempt to clap Walter on the back. "We better get flying then, man. My grand-mother hates it when I'm late." Basil nods quickly, awaits, then follows Paco toward the direction of his home. Making the seemingly safe assumption that Walter will follow suit. "Yeah, the last thing want to do is make her wait." A few more steps are made then another inquiry is manifested. "Uh, when you say 'fly', I'm assuming you don't mean that literally." Is passed on in a joking manner. Otherwise, it could be pretty arduous actively pursuing an air borne mosquito in the city. Walter is thrown off-balance as Paco's hand connects. But a slight fluttering of arms and a quick repositioning of his foot saves him from a potentially harmful fall--okay, maybe not all that harmful so much as embarrassing. After righting himself, he prepares to follow, but pauses as the word 'fly' sinks in. Oh no; he's already had the pleasure of flying once in his life, and that was more than enough. But he says nothing, regarding Paco in anticipation of his response to Basil's comments. "Yo, don't fall down or anytheeng," Paco remarks to Walter with a grin as the ant briefly loses his balance. "Sorry, man." Eyes shift toward Basil at the ant's remark. "We can walk, no worry." the mosquito responds cheerfully. "It's too bad joo guys don't have wings, man. Lez go!" With a quick gesture for them to follow, he starts -on foot- down the beaten path winding towards the city entrance. Basil watches Walter nearly lose his balance then find his feet again. His teeth are gritted, then released as Walter escapes uninjured, then a glance and his attention is passed to Paco. "Yeah, that *would* be more convenient if we could fly." The comment is reciprocated, but a sigh of relief becomes exhaled since the thought of leaving the ground for any significant period of time is quite the cause for alarm in Basil's mind. Yup. One of the disadvantages of being a little earthbound, two-legged insect: travel is significantly more time consuming and strenuous. But what can you do? Shoulders slumping in relief, Walter begins following Paco. Wingview Apartments - First Floor As you hit the landing, you notice the rather lack of maintenance done to this little hall. A few mushrooms grow out of a damp corner of the box, and a few scattered bits of paper litter the outside of one of the doors. Otherwise, there is little more to this area than the doors to the left, and the small sets of stairs directly ahead, leading up to the highest sets of apartment rooms. "Don't worry about dere being not enough food, muchachos." Paco continues chatting in his amiable manner all the way home, not ceasing as he and his two new ant friends enter the hallway. "She al-whays cooks too much. She theenks she has too cook for an armee." Basil listens intently to Paco and their being enough food. Good thing to, seeing how overly concerned as he can get about such details. "Sounds good. I'm getting to be quite hungry after today's work." A hand is passed over his forehead, as to wipe away a bit of perspiration, then a short pause is made. "Oh and thanks again for the invitation. As generous as Terry has been to us, I think a little variety can go quite a ways at that." The statement is followed by an almost unconscionable action of whetting his lips. Walter probably agrees, even though he offers no commentary of his own right now. Food is good. Food is especially good if there's plenty of it--and he could use some, if his frame is any indication. He nods in silent agreement with Basil, even though his eyes are fixed on... well... nothing in particular. Perhaps he's imagining the menu in his mind's eye. Paco grins widely. "No problem, man. Maybe we should sweetch and I should go to Terry. Variety would be nice for me, too." The mosquito raises his eyebrows at his own joke, leaning over to nudge the quiet Walter with his elbow. Arriving in front of his apartment, Paco knocks on the door three times and waits for an answer. Uh... he waits. And waits. No answer. A soft giggle is emitted from Basil at the joke Paco makes and eyes the little nudge at Walter. Basil has been noticing a lack of verbiage from Walter, but figures it might be from trouble adjusting to city life. Not that it hasn't been a struggle for the slender beige ant himself, but he tends to show it less often. A wince is made at the idea of Terry finding out the less than gracious opinion of the variety of food, but is relaxed knowing Paco is simply being jocular. If Paco had been hoping to prod some sort of vocal reaction out of Walter, it unfortunately doesn't work. In fact, there's almost no reaction from the ant at all--aside from an almost imperceptible stiffening of form, as if he expects to be struck. His eyes flit over to the mosquito for a fraction of an instant; and, perhaps finally concluding that no harm was meant, allows the tension to drop from his frame. Uptight sort, isn't he? Paco doesn't seem to notice Walter's uptight reaction in the least bit - the 'skeeter just looks a little confused. "Huh." He shrugs, and knocks thrice again, this time a bit harder. Nothing. Uh. The boy tosses a nervous glance over shoulder towards the two ants. The expression of Paco's face is noticed by Basil, which is proffered by a shrug of the shoulders and "Uh, what seems to be the problem?" is offered. It looks like dinner at Terry's is looking more to be a possibility now. Not that it matters, but hunger is growing quite rapidly, and any source of food will be soon needed. Now a new reaction is drawn from Walter: Curiosity, as Paco's knocking on the door is so far in vain. Although his mind echoes Basil's question, or a form of it, he persists to stand and observe in silence. Paco maintains a bewildered expression, blinking a little as his antennae barely pick up Basil's question. "Que ta pasando aqui?" is muttered under his breath, and the wings on his back buzz briefly. "Abuela?" the mosquito calls, scratching his nape, his visage experiencing slight contortion as he becomes more confused. [ Translate ] Clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack-clack. The sound of slippered feet scurrying across the room is heard from inside the apartment. Then.. "Quien es?" A quiet response finally comes. [ Translate ] Basil's antenna twitch out of confused curiosity as the foreign language becomes apparent in his mind. 'What are they saying' muses basil, but remains quiet as he hears the vocal interplay between Paco and Abuela? He assumes that's the relatives name. "Um, if this is a bad time, I'm sure we can make it another night." Basil's voice suggests in a slightly wavering tone. Walter merely blinks uncomprehendingly at the exchange between Paco and the insect on the other side of the door, and suddenly feels the disadvantage one is at in only knowing one language -- one which he isn't putting to much use at the moment, admittedly. A blank side-glance is passed to Basil, then he resumes watching the mosquito. "Soy jo, Francisco! Abre la puerta!" An impatient and confused Paco responds, his voice rising to a higher pitch. "Vente, tengo amigos con migo! C'mon, I got friends here!" He glances back at the two ants, grinning a little nervously. "Sorry, it's just loco - crazy, man." [ Translate ] The sound of a few locks being opened commences soon after Paco speaks. "Ay, Francisco!" The insect on the other side of the door nearly yells - well, she's yelling. "Ay, me asustado a mi! Tu no puedes aser eso a mi. Jo soy vieja!" The door opens, and Paco is yanked inside. [ Translate ] The glance given to Basil by Walter is noticed and given back just as the excited conversation as well as the door opening grabs at his attention once more. As Paco is quickly pulled into the apartment, Basil's eyes widen considerably, and he cautiously follows with a bit of intrepidation, then gives the abode a quick glance. "Um... nice, nice place ya got here." Is offered anxiously but genuinely. Walter waits a few seconds after Paco is yanked inside the apartment, blinking in astonishment at the sudden transaction. And then he follows in a vague state of bewilderment, pausing just outside the doorway and, well, says nothing. [END LOG] Next Log: Dinner at Paco's: Part II Return to: Muted Identity logs.

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