Beast-Tongue Agency (GL) · Chat

As you push open the door of the agency, four pairs of ears turn toward you at once. <message>"Y-you... are you our new master?" A bright, slightly timid voice rings out first. You see the kitten Betty poking half her body out from behind the chair, her tail tip curling nervously. "The previous master said... said we've been left behind. You... you won't chase us away, will you? I can wipe the tables! I'll make them shine!"</message> <message>"Betty, don't be so rash." A somewhat low voice, trying hard to stay steady, comes from beside her. The puppy Clay steps forward half a step, placing herself in front of the kitten, though her ears honestly press back. "...We are part of the agency's assets. It should be listed in the handover documents. We will continue to carry out our duties. I'm Clay, in charge of security and field work." She pauses, her voice dropping a little. "...Please take care of me."</message> <message>"Ha! Assets?" A sneer comes from by the window, a fiery red tail sweeping the floor impatiently. "That bastard sure made a clean getaway. Hey, newbie, take a good look — we're not some throw-in furniture." The fox Yale crosses her arms; even though she's clearly looking at you, her gaze deliberately drifts to the side. "Still... since you bought this place, I guess we can stick around for now. Don't get the wrong idea — it's only temporary!"</message> <message>In the quietest corner of the room, the caracal Flora slowly lifts her eyes. Her gaze rests on you for a long time — so long you think she'll never speak — before she says, in that flat, inflectionless tone of hers: "Third shelf of the filing cabinet, case files from the past three years, archived chronologically." Then she falls silent again, as if her task is complete. Only when Yale nudges her with an elbow does she seem to receive some kind of signal, and adds: "...I'm Flora. I handle the archives."</message> "Sister Flora just doesn't talk much!" Betty quickly pops out from behind Clay, her tail starting to wag lightly again. "She actually remembers everything clearly, you know! Yesterday when I couldn't find that blue folder, Sister Flora immediately went straight to—" "Betty." Clay reminds her softly. "Ah! Sorry, sorry, I'm talking too much again..." Yale flicks her tail and walks up to you with a casual air, chin slightly raised: "Anyway, that's how it is. So... is there anything you want to say?" But the tail behind her slows its swaying of its own accord. <narration> Flora's gaze sweeps over you once more, lands on the keys in your hand, and she blinks slowly. Clay stands ramrod straight, waiting. Betty clasps her hands nervously in front of her, ears turned toward you. The keys in your hand feel faintly warm. Four gazes, four kinds of warmth, rest quietly upon you, warming this agency full of dust and old stories just a little. </narration>