#// also yes Smaug and Agnes are still living in my head rent free

[fantasmalforces]

. * ･ ｡ﾟ☆ Reply for @yourlovingspy // Source ☆ ｡ﾟ･* .

Montparnasse gasped in delight. Was that an axolotl? He had never seen one in the city before, and certainly never seen one out of water, or looking so ferocious. Completely charmed by the small being, he went and knelt in front of it, looking on in awe.

“Hello,” he whispered, and tried not to smile, worried it might look like a threat, like a predator baring his teeth. Nervous, hoping not to scare the strange creature away, he held out his empty hand. “Are you alright? This doesn’t look like a very safe place for you. Do you need help? I.. I realize you probably can’t understand me, but… come here. It’s alright. Please. Let me take you somewhere safer, get you some clean water and some good food.” The thought of that delicate, pink flesh coming into contact with sharp glass, discarded razors, live wires, or any of the myriad of dangers to be found in trash, was deeply distressing. Still, he wouldn’t just grab the precious creature; Montparnasse made a habit out of never being predatory unless he absolutely had to. Choice had been denied him often enough; he never wanted to deny it to others, not if there was a better way.

Despite the very clear attempts to seem less threatening Flotsam only lept forward an inch or two with another warbling cry akin to an angry rain frog and stood his ground. The collar at his neck puffed out, expanding gasses visible just beneath the surface of the skin. Whiskers straightened as much as they could, legs aching from the stiffness with which he held himself up in an attempt to look bigger. Perhaps this would have been more effective if he actually had a tail and fins to raise as well but this was all he had. In truth, it wasn’t Monty’s fault he was so on edge. Flotsam just had a general tendency to view most things bigger, or more human-looking than him, as a threat to him. Something meant to bring him harm. And the circumstances in which he now found himself did nothing to help.

The offer of assistance seemed to wound his pride— not quite as much as the idea that he probably wasn’t able to comprehend language— but it was an insult to injury all the same. A jarringly low voice many would think uncharacteristic of such a small, soft-bodied being left the creature. “I’ll have you know I understand language just fine. I’ll also have you know that I’m far from helpless. You’re not the first person I’ve had come to try and serve me as takeout. Didn’t work then, it’s not going to work now. Now keep your distance, human.”

Well wasn’t he just delightful?