2019-08-25 - Close Encounters of the Frog Kind

Alexander attempted to make dinner! As in, not from a microwave tray or a can. It's nothing exciting, really, just another casserole with veggies and cheese and some ground beef, but he actually used seasoning this time, and it tastes better. And afterwards, feeling flush with success from the endeavor, he suggested they take advantage of the evening warmth, and walk down to Gray Pond and see if any of the tree frogs happen to be out and about.

Presumably, Isolde said yes. Otherwise their presence here is rather awkward. Alexander has brought a flashlight to spot the frogs, but no net to catch them or pen to put them in. They are NOT keeping the frogs they find. He has been quietly adamant on this point.

A successful dinner! Isolde is very proud of Alexander's advancements in the area of casseroles. She had some in sometime late last night or early this morning and had been in an extremely good mood, so very little could get her down right now anyway. Unless a certain Harrison Danvers somehow made an appearance back in her path. When Alexander suggests trying to find some tree frogs she is TOTALLY FOR THIS!

And then terribly crestfallen for a few seconds when he says the frogs can't be kept. Alas, poor Isolde. One day she can have as many frogs as she would like. When she has her own place. And there isn't a little green conure who would most definitely try to eat them. She is near vibrating with excitement as they near the pond. "How many do you think we might find?" She asks in a hushed whisper, peering around intently.

"Oh, I think we'll find at least a few," Alexander says, smiling at her excitement. He's not quite whispering, himself. He reaches into the back pocket of his jeans and pulls out a folded piece of paper. He shines the flashlight down on it - it is a wikipedia page on the Pacific Tree Frog, because Alexanders like research. "Says here that they prefer to hide under logs, leaf litter, and rocks, so we might have more luck closer to the forest." He waves to that side of the pond. "And we should listen out for a...long 'cre-eek' sound, apparently." He puts the paper back in his pocket, then solemnly offers her the flashlight. "Will you be our spotter, Isolde?"

"I hope so." Isolde agrees, peeking at the page that Alexander unfolds and reads off of. "...cre-eek.." It's quiet still. Testing out the sound but also like she doesn't want to scare off any of the frogs. She grins again when he hands her the flashlightly. "Yes! I will be. I will spot all the frogs!" She's risen to a more normal talking level at this because dangit, this is exciting! And it's hard to contain her excitment. Once the flashlight is in hand, she starts leading them closer to the forest side. She's moving carefully, swinging the flashlight at a steady pace to make sure to keep an eye out for any good spots a tree frog might be hiding.

"I remember there's some fallen logs over thataway," Alexander says, waving at a specific place on the shore. "Let's check it out." He lets her lead, because she's the one with the light, but he's keeping his steps light and his ears open. There are froggy croaks in the summer air - there are DEFINITELY tree frogs out here. Oh yes. He gives her a little grin in the dark, and scans the tangle of fallen trees, heavily covered in green moss. "Is that one?" he whispers, pointing to a broken out hollow in the log. And, should she shine it in that direction, Isolde will indeed see a small, green tree frog, nearly blended into the moss its hiding in. Its throat works as it lets out a ribbit.

Isolde alters course slightly at Alexander's suggestion of the hollow log. She giggles a bit as the sound of the frogs fill the quiet night air. They were here!! Just to find them! They creep closer and one sounds nearby. Alexander motions to the log and she slowly shines the flashlight. An excited little squeak when she sees the frog. "There is it! It's so tiny and adorable!" Trying to keep her voice hushed so as to not scare the frog too terribly

Now that one has been found and she has a visual about what she's looking for, Isolde keeps her ears open for more croaking. There's another one. Somewhere behind them. She turns her head quickly towards some trees. "I think I hear more." She turns the rest of herself so she can walk closer to the tree line. Carefully examining the ground and then - there's the next one! Sitting in a little next of leaves that have fallen.

Alexander peers at the frog, leaning over to get a better look at it. It has big eyes for its size, and ribbits at him before springing away down the log with its tiny, bouncy legs. "...gotta admit, the little guys are pretty cute." When the flashlight moves on, he follows it, and Isolde, in her search. He ghosts along behind her, concentrating mostly on not falling or making a loud noise. "You could probably take some pictures of them. If you wanted. I could hold the flashlight once you've found one, and you could snap the pics."

Yes they are! The cutest things in the world! "Pictures, yes! I will do that." Isolde agreed, leaning down to inspect the second frog- though it didn't appreciate the light too much because it also bounded away not long after. However, she was inspired instead of discouraged! There certainly had to be more frogs. Luigi was gonna hear allll about this when they got back to the house. And then Itzhak, and probably Isabella. Easton would likely get a picture of a frog in response to the pictures of his new puppy. She falls quiet though, concentrating on searching. Like this is the most important task she's ever had to do. There's another fallen log they're approaching and Isolde listens for more croaking as she aims the flashlight towards the shallow opening as its only a partially hollowed out log. And they are rewarded with TWO frogs. She hands the flashlight to Alexander for this.

THESE are the frogs that will get their pictures taken. Well, the first two at least.

Alexander takes the flashlight solemnly. He's mostly following her around, and encouraging her mighty frog-hunter's spirit. And maaaaaybe planning something. He holds the flashlight in place, although slightly off to one side, so the two little frogs aren't getting too scared by the light. And these two frogs? They are going to hold RIGHT THERE, and be good little froggie photo-models. Yes they are. Whether Isolde feels the subtle pulse of power from Alexander to the two amphibians...well yes, yes she does. She also feels that his power is winding its way through the local wilderness, and the croaking of frogs is getting...louder. Closer.

Once the flashlight is in Alexander's capable hands, Isolde is fishing out her phone. Trying not to fumble it because she's just so dang excited about this! She is getting the camera up and ready when she feels it. That pulse from Alexander, catching sight of little firework sparkler type things shoot out into the forest, lingering around the pair of frogs. She pauses, a little confused. Not so much about the two frogs, but what else he's doing. Turning her head to look at him for a beat - then the croaking...she hears it. And her eyes widen again - looking out towards the forest. Though she does manage to remember to snag a picture of teh two frogs before she's just...staring. Eye's wide with awe and curiosity and 'oh my god is that what I think it is?!?!?!'

Alexander puts a finger of his free hand over his lips. "Shhhh," he tells her, while looking /ridiculously/ pleased with himself. As if to distract her from thinking about the approaching ribbits, the two frogs closest by SPRING with their little legs - right towards her. Assuming Isolde doesn't dodge, she will soon have two frogs, tiny green and brown things, clinging to her arm. Then climbing slowly up her. Oh, and hey. Now there's one on her leg. And another on the other leg. And another, and another, until she's got about ten of them starting to make their careful, tiny-footed way up her body, their froggy eyes fixed on her, and the sound of their contented croaks filling the air.

Isodle might just die right here! There's TWO FROGS ON HER. Climbing on her. There's another! And another! Oh. My. God. THIS IS THE BEST NIGHT EVER. She's trying so very hard to suppress her excitement so she doesn't potentially scare off the frogs. Bring her arm closer to so she can carefully touch the one on it. Another squeak of excitment. She can't even find words to describe how happy and excited she is in this very moment. Rocking on her feet once, a little, before remember it might scare the frogs. SO. EXCITING. Turning carefully to Alexander. "Take a picture!" Anyone else would probably be freaking out and panicking, but not Isolde!

Alexander's face brightens into that sunny, carefree grin that is his rarest of expressions. He practically radiates pleasure as he watches her happiness. He reaches into his other back pocket and pulls out his cell phone as four frogs make it to her shoulders and rest there for a bit, two on each side, croaking close to her ears and moving back and forth like, 'woah, this is pretty high up'. Several others seem content to cling to her forearms and hands, where she can easily see and inspect them. One PARTICULARLY brave one has made its way up her hair, and with a final leap, lands on the top of her head. 'I am king of the Isolde-mountain' his proud croak tells the world.

Alexander waits until he's comfortable up there before he starts click clicking a few pictures, keeping the worst of the flashlight clear of Isolde's eyes. But at least one photo is a wide angle shot to show her expression and the fact that she is covered with frogs.

Isolde's expression radiates even further when a frogs lands right on her head! She stays perfectly still as she can for the pictures Alexander snaps. Then she is back to inspecting some of the closer ones. Oh she wants to keep them all so badly! At least one. But...they live here in the forest! Which means, she can totally come back and visit, right? All ten of them have names within a few minutes. "This is the best thing ever!" Isolde grinned to Alexander. "Thank you! You're the best best friend ever!" It's really hard for her to keep her voice level down, but she's totally trying her hardest. She would let the frogs stay on her all night if she could!

But, alas, the frogs would not like that, and Luigi would not like it, and as much as Alexander likes Isolde, Luigi totally runs the pet situation in that house, and will suffer no competitors for his human's affections. So Alexander hums to himself a little, and after a couple more photos, the frogs make their way carefully down Isolde's body until they can safely jump to nearby plants and trunks, and they bound away. No doubt to find tasty insects and exchange very confused stories about why they got that super weird urge to climb a human that one night. Alexander's grin fades back into the less rare faint smile, his attention turning to the phone to send her copies of all the pictures. "I'm glad you enjoyed it, Isolde. I enjoyed watching you."

The red head continues to stay perfectly still so the frogs can make their way down. Giggling a bit when their little feet tickle her. Then she is frog-free once more and NOW she lets out the totally fan-girlish squeal properly. "THEY WERE SO CUTE!" Yep, just wake up the whole forest Izzy. She claps her hands together and then moved a little closer. Taking her phone out as he sends the pictures so she can look at them. "It was the best present ever." Isolde agreed, navigating to save the pictures and then saved one of them as her background. She was getting a little more tech savvy at least! She slips her phone away and grinned. "Can I give you a hug?"

Alexander puts his phone away, and chuckles. It's brief and rusty, but warm. "They were pretty cute," he concedes. Frogs may not be his FAVORITE THING EVER, but it's hard to dislike the tiny, croaky things, especially when you've been touching the tiny, simple lights of their minds. Her request has him look surprised. Then he closes his eyes and assesses himself. "It should be fine, Isolde," he says, after a moment. "I think I can." And if she does hug him, he will even return it, brief but warm.

Isolde giggled. "They are soooo cutee." She waited patiently for him to decide. Then would hug him! It's quick, but if he got any fleeting impressions it's just pure delight and excitement and warmth. Then she's stepping back. "Time to go back home now?" Pushing a hand through her hair. "You can be the flash light keeper for this one!"

"Time to go back now," Alexander agrees, softly. He hardly tenses up at all when her arms come around him, and when he turns away, it doesn't seem a rejection, but just so he can point the flashlight towards home. "This was a good evening. Thank you for coming out with me, Isolde." A tip of his head to her, and then he leads the way back to the house, humming under his breath most of the way.