[center][h1][color=#00FF7F]James Harris,[/color] [color=#0080FF]Arthur Pendragon,[/color] [color=D0661E]& Arkin Rey[/color][/h1][/center]
The quiet vibrations of his cellphone woke James from his slumber as he dismissed his alarm with a small growl of frustration at himself for forgetting to disable it. It’s his first day off in ages, he was not supposed to be woken up at 6:30am. Pulling himself out of bed, he went over to his wardrobe and quickly threw on jeans and a sweater before he started to collect any clothes lying about in his room and repeating the process in the bathroom, throwing everything into his hamper before picking it up and heading towards the laundry room. 

It wasn’t until he passed the couch and saw Arf and Arthur passed out on it, that the events of last night registered. [color=#00FF7F]”It actually happened…”[/color] Sighing at the ever-growing list of tasks being added to his to-do list at the revelation. Quietly leaving the apartment he headed down to the laundry room and started the first load. The first errand out of the way, he moved on to the second, leaving the building and boarding his bike, reentering his apartment about 40 minutes later with two bags of groceries in hand. 

Preheating the oven, he swiftly deposited everything into their rightful places, while taking out everything he’ll need for breakfast. His first action was to dump two bags of sausages into two of his largest pans before sticking two trays of bacon into the oven. When the first batch is done, he’ll load up the oven with another. He doesn’t know how much Arf needs to eat, but he’d rather make too much than too little. While he waits, he whips up a mixture for waffles. It didn’t take long for the meat to finish as he piled up two large plates with waffle towers. After that, he put a few slices of bread into the toaster and cracked open three eggs into a pan - scrambling them - and turned on the kettle. He has a decent selection of tea, and if Arthur does turn out to be a [i]shudder[/i] coffee drinker, the small container of instant coffee he picked up at the store should suffice.

The toast popped out of the toaster and he removed the eggs from the pan. It was time to wake them. [color=#00FF7F]𝒢𝓊𝓎𝓈, 𝒷𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓀𝒻𝒶𝓈𝓉 𝒾𝓈 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹𝓎[i]![/i]~♪[/color]

Arthur's dreams, pleasant as they were, were oddly fluffy, not unlike the living pillow he had buried his face into upon falling asleep. A warm, comfortable sensation he was not accustomed to. Unlike the previous nights since arriving, Arthur found himself waking to the heavenly aroma of cooked meat and a boundless sea of fluffy dog. Looking up through bleary eyes, Arthur focused on James’ visage as a yawn escaped him. “I thank thee sir James for the hospitality. I dare say, I was expecting for us to go out on a hunt. ‘Tis a great way to wake the mind and body, isn’t that right boy?”  

Arthur tries to wake the wolf, petting him gently at first before moving on to shaking him a bit. Seeing it remain unresponsive, he gradually increased the intensity of his jostling until he was furiously rubbing its fur all over. It was kind of fun, given how soft it is, but still, nothing. Welp, guess the dog is dead. It’s clearly still breathing, but it appears to be in some sort of coma. [color=#0080FF]”Mayhaps our canid friend has been on the receiving end of a cursed apple?”[/color]

[color=#00FF7F]”I don’t know how common cursed apples are where you come from, but I think he’s just a heavy sleeper?”[/color] As if to test his theory, James brought over a plate full of bacon, taking a piece and dangling it in front of the wolf’s nose.

A little over a second passed in complete stillness before the wolf snapped the bacon out of James’ grip in an instant, causing him to recoil away as the visceral illusion of losing a few fingers set off alarm bells in his head. Thankfully, in spite of the lingering imaginary sensations, no fingers were lost, and it seemed to have worked in waking the wolf up. Or, at least, getting it to wake up.

The wolf gobbled down the strip of bacon greedily without opening its eyes, as if eating the entire thing in its sleep. Only a moment after it swallowed did it seem to stir in earnest, tiredly looking up at the two men surrounding it before stretching out like a cat and getting off the bed.

[color=#0080FF]“You’d be wise to remember that when feeding an animal, it is always best done palm up.”[/color] Arthur had learned that lesson the hard way while feeding the stray dogs and cats that seemed to flock to Merlin’s hut.

Rubbing his fingers after their narrow miss, James gave a stilted laugh. [color=#00FF7F]”I'll remember that.”[/color]

With Arf up, they all moved to the kitchen, where James served the large wolf a veritable feast of meats. Arthur began tearing into the tower of waffles as James set out a selection of breakfast beverages for Arthur to choose between. Oddly, before beginning the feast, Arf walked over to the opposite end of the kitchen table and gingerly grabbed the mug with coffee in it between his teeth, carefully dragging it back towards his plate of meats. It was an odd sight, but Arf seemed to be happy as he licked up the coffee, apparently undeterred by the lack of opposable thumbs.

A chill crawled up James’ spine, covering his entire body with goosebumps. Coffee…blegh…

Wait a minute… [color=#00FF7F]”Isn’t coffee toxic to dogs?”[/color] A touch of humor coloured James’ voice as he gave the wolf his best dead-pan look.

This caused Arf to pause, looking back at James, before looking back down at the coffee. A second of silence passes. Arf resumes drinking the coffee.

A snort left James as Arf’s priorities revealed themselves. Arthur, on the other hand, knew better than to doubt the wisdom of a medicine man. Glancing at Arf with wide eyes, showing clear concern on his face, Arthur swallowed what food was currently in his mouth before choking out a single word of concern. [color=#0080FF]”Toxic?”[/color]

James simply shook his head before giving Arthur a reassuring smile. [color=#00FF7F]”While I’m firmly of the opinion that coffee is toxic to everyone, he should be fine. I don’t think he’s an ordinary dog, after all. Besides, chocolate is also toxic for canines and my mom used to feed her pup a small bar of it every night when she was a kid, and he still lived for almost 15 years. As long as he doesn’t push it with a second cup -“[/color] Here James directed a very stern look towards Arf, [color=#00FF7F]”it should be alright.”[/color]

Arf disregarded James entirely and began moving towards the stove as the first mug was emptied. He tilted his head sidewards and awkwardly picked up the kettle of boiling hot water before James realized he didn’t want the oversized wolf pouring scalding liquid into a cup he can only barely see in his peripheral vision.

Arf rubbed his head on James’ shoulder affectionately, like a cat instead of a dog again, as James begrudgingly made another cup of coffee for him.

Arkin, having ascended to the status of real, actual person™ with the help of caffeine, began eating breakfast in earnest, digging in with a ferocious appetite that the back of his mind told him was frankly concerning. Still, the bacon and sausage was too good for him to pay it any heed, and the time he spent without coffee made it all the more satisfying to finally return to, like separated lovers finally reunited. Even if it is toxic to him, it’s absolutely worth it.

Maybe being a giant wolf man has made him more of a morning person, because he was feeling pretty good today. He couldn’t fathom why James, finally sitting down and getting to his own breakfast, didn’t seem to share in the same good vibes. Maybe he got in over his head with the huge buffet?

James, meanwhile, was doing his best to look stern. He would not be encouraging bad coffee habits by showing that he was amused. No sirree. Besides, there was a lot to think about, arrangements to be made and errands to run. [color=#00FF7F]”Alright, eat up guys. We have a lot to do today. We’ll need to go into town later to pick up some essentials for you two. I’m just gonna head down to switch the laundry to the dryer, we can go once I get back. Arthur, feel free to help yourself to anything in my closet in the meantime.”[/color]

[color=#0080FF]”I am humbled by thy allowance of thine wardrobe.”[/color]

As soon as James leaves, Arthur immediately turns to Arkin and begins begging for another ride. [color=#0080FF]”Would you mind giving me another ride, my friend?”[/color]

Arkin, in between bites of his extensive plate of [i]schmeat[/i], spared Arthur only a brief response. [color=D0661E]”Arf.”[/color]

[color=#0080FF]”Please, boy. I’m not ready for another ride on that infernal stygian chariot!”[/color]

[color=D0661E]”Arf.”[/color]

Arthur grew increasingly more desperate, knowing full well he had nothing to leverage for the request. [color=#0080FF]”I beg of thee, great and noble beast, grant me thy mercy and you shall have my eternal gratitude.”[/color]

[color=D0661E]”Arf.”[/color]

[color=#0080FF]”I shall be eternally in your debt. Your whims, my command. Anything, [i]anything,[/i] that I may be spared such a wretched and terrible fate as that of yesterday.”[/color]

[color=D0661E]”Arf.”[/color]

[color=#0080FF]”Please please please please please please please please please please!”[/color]

[color=D0661E]”Arf.”[/color]

[color=#0080FF]”Ah! The light of mercy shineth upon me.”[/color] Arthur gets up, walks over to Arkin, who is still largely preoccupied with eating, and hugs him. [color=#0080FF]”Truly your magnanimity knows no bounds. I am humbled by your generosity. You are an inspiration of what a King should be to his people. I will look back on this moment for all time, remembering the selflessness you saw fit to bestow upon me here today.”[/color]

[color=D0661E]”Arf”[/color], Arkin said for the sixth time.

[hr]
After returning to his breakfast and finishing it last, Arthur wandered into James’ room and, with subtle help from Arkin, managed to put together a casual outfit that wouldn’t stick out like a sore thumb. As James returned, the two followed him out before Arthur climbed up onto Arkin while James started his bike’s engine.

Whilst he was clearly more used to riding a equine steed with a saddle, there was something oddly soothing about mounting his oversized canid companion. The softness of his fur was unparalleled. Plus, it was clearly safer than riding in that roaring metal carriage. Had James even pondered what would happen if one of his wheels were to come free from their axles? For that matter, where were the axles? Pushing those thoughts aside, Arthur instead opted to think of ways to repay his furry friend. Surely with what little coinage he had, he would be able to find something that he would like. Upon further thinking, he realized he had yet to repay James for his kindness as well. 

Pulling up at the mall was the start of an… [i]experience,[/i] to say the least. If James thought corralling a hyper five-year-old was tough, he hadn’t seen anything yet. The first obstacle came when security threatened not to let them in, but considering the recent rise in abnormal-looking supers, they managed to get past him easily enough with some smooth-talking from James. After that, the real challenge bagan. They went from store to store, picking up essentials; bathroom supplies James had to ensure Arthur were all important,

[quote][color=#00FF7F]“Yes, deodorant is necessary. No, I don’t know why it has such a weird name. Arf, please tell Arthur it’s necessary.”[/color]

[color=D0661E]“Arf.”[/color]

[color=#00FF7F]“See?”[/color][/quote]
Some modern clothing for Arthur to wear,

[quote][color=#0080FF]”Why must every other shirt bear a picture or a joke on it?”[/color]

[color=D0661E]“Arf.”[/color]

[color=#0080FF]”I don’t understand!”[/color]

[color=#00FF7F]“Well, I think your selection of t-shirts and leather has you covered for the most part. How about we move on to shoes?”[/color]

[color=D0661E]“Arf.”[/color]

[color=#0080FF]”’Tis warm and protective.”[/color]

[color=#00FF7F]“Leather jacket, leather pants, and now steel-toed boots… You sure you don’t want to ride on my motorcycle?”[/color]

[color=0080FF]”Yes, that thing is absolutely terrifying. I would rather ride a wooden pony.”[/color][/quote]
And eventually a toy store, to keep Arthur entertained, if nothing else.

Arthur had been happy in his youth with a homemade wooden sword, and the few animals the ladies of the brothel had made for him in their free time. However, upon entering the toy store, Arthur’s eyes nearly bugged out of his skull, his jaw nearly unhinging as he took in what he saw. One of the first things that caught his eye was a display upfront full of McFarlane action figures. More specifically, a Final Fantasy Action figure of Cloud Strife. [color=#0080FF]“I cry thee, what is this? This man’s sword is far too large! And how pray tell does his hair do that? I mean it’s just...”[/color] His voice suddenly cut off as his eyes fell upon a scantily clad female knight. [color=#0080FF]“By God’s grace this is just wrong!”[/color] His enamored shouting quickly drew the attention of a nearby kid. [color=#0080FF]“I dare say, this woman is barely dressed! In fact this armor is practically useless! Prithee, tell me this. In what way would such armor protect thee?”[/color]

Arthur would have gone on about how useless the woman’s armor was, when his eyes fell upon something truly disturbing. Sitting on a lower shelf, marked as half off, sat a six inch statuette of a ruggish brunette man clad in armor and cape, with long flowing hair, emerald green eyes, and a grizzled beard. Engraved on the base it read ‘Arthur Pendragon’. Arthur didn’t know how to feel as he stared at what was supposed to be him. Was history so skewed, that is how they remembered him? Is this really what people thought he looked like? As Arthur sat dumbfounded staring at the misrepresentation of himself, he didn’t notice the employee who had come up behind him.

“Oh, are you a fan of the ‘Guinevere’ series? It’s funny, but nobody seems to want the Arthur figures. All they want are Merlin and Guinevere action figures.” Snapped from his stupor Arthur promptly grabbed the figurine and waved it in the man’s face.

[color=#0080FF]“This is an outrageous lie! My hair be not this dark! Nor my eye’s green! How dare thee peddle such blatant lies! Have thee no dignity!”[/color] Thankfully James managed to pull him away from the action figures, and a very confused employee, before he could cause any more of a ruckus.

After preventing anyone from throwing down a gauntlet, James ushered Arthur back outside, highly amused, and had him wait there before grabbing a set of walkie-talkies, as well as some teddy bears for his nieces and nephew. He figured the walkie-talkies would be easier for Arthur to operate than a phone.

While Arthur wasn’t the easiest, Arf was the real challenge. James had no idea what he might need, going so far as to drag their group into a pet supply store.

[quote][color=#00FF7F]“What do you think about this bowl, Arf? It’s shiny?”[/color]

[i]Slaps bowl out of his hands with extreme prejudice.[/i]

James gave him a deadpan expression. [color=#00FF7F]“Nice.”[/color] He then picked up a nearby chew toy and squeaked it. [color=#00FF7F]“What about this? It’s bone shaped?”[/color]

[i]Slaps chew toy out of his hands with extreme prejudice.[/i]

Sensing a pattern, a mischievous grin crossed James’ face. Picking up a nearby bag of meaty dog treats, he gave it a shake. [color=#00FF7F]“Not even for an Arf-snack?”[/color]

[i]Walks away[/i]

Laughing, James ran after Arf’s retreating form. [color=#00FF7F]“Wait, come back! I’m sorry!”[/color][/quote]
Ultimately, they left the pet store empty-handed.

They continued shopping for hours before James declared that it was finally time for them to head home. Satisfied with his procurement of essential supplies, he brought the two to an ice cream shop, where they sat down for a frozen treat before heading back.

[color=#0080FF]”Prithee tell, how do your people keep your food so cold? This must surely be magic. Also, I’m not too sure of the current going rate for currency these days, but it felt as if thou hast spent quite a lot on me today. By any chance would you know how much my money is worth?Surely gold must still be worth something.”[/color] Reaching down to his belt he undid his coin purse and slid it across the table to James before taking a bite of his vanilla ice cream. [color=#0080FF]”By the grace of god almighty that is heavenly. I must eat this with every meal!”[/color]

James grinned as Arthur devoured the frozen treat, picking up the gold absentmindedly.  [color=#00FF7F]“I'm glad you like it, it might not be magic, but good old human ingenuity ain't anything to scoff at either, just don't eat it too fast.”[/color] James wasn't really expecting much when Arthur mentioned gold coins - a part of him was even expecting it to be those chocolate coins - he had prepared himself to humor Arthur, to gently inform him that values have changed and that he wasn’t going to be able to get much for them…he wasn't prepared for the sight of actual ancient gold coins. [color=#00FF7F]“...”[/color]

Taking a second to make sure that he wasn't just seeing things, James looked up at Arthur, slightly stunned. [color=#00FF7F]“Dang, you're just chock-full of surprises kiddo.”[/color] James is not going to ask where he got them. He doesn’t want to know. [color=#00FF7F]“I'm not an expert and I might be wrong, but - depending on the collector - these might be worth a fortune…”[/color] Sliding the coins back to Arthur, James looked at him with a serious expression [color=#00FF7F]“Promise me you won't spend them until you have an expert look them over, I don't want you getting scammed.”[/color]

[color=#0080FF]”You have my solemn oath, that I shall refrain from any ill spending.”[/color]

[color=#00FF7F]“Great, I’ll set up a meeting with an expert for you during the week, so you’ll just have to hold off until then.”[/color]

Returning home and entering the apartment with arms full of purchases, the three men all breathed a sigh of relief. Shopping is always an ordeal. Placing the purchases down, James gave the two of them a smile. [color=#00FF7F]“Okay, now we can officially get you guys settled in. I’ll call my family later to see if any of them have an old chest or dresser we can move in here for you. If not, my sister-in-law’s a woodworker so I’ll get the friends and family discount if we need to commission one.”[/color] Giving Arthur’s shoulder a pat, James continued, [color=#00FF7F]“There should be enough room in my closet for your clothes until then. It might be a little tight, but -”[/color]

[color=D0661E]”Arf?”[/color]

[color=#00FF7F]“I don’t mind. You guys can live with me for as long as you need.”[/color]

[color=D0661E]”Arf?”[/color]

[color=#00FF7F]“You guys don’t have to worry about anything. As the epitome of a responsible adult, I’m financially stable enough to keep the expenses from affecting me. I appreciate the concern, though.”[/color]

[color=D0661E]”Arf.”[/color]

[color=#0080FF]”You’re right, Arf. You have my thanks, James. If not with gold, then I’d still like to repay you in some way.”[/color]

[color=#00FF7F]“Pssh, don’t worry about that, I’m a paramedic after all, helping people’s in my DNA or something, and it’ll be nice to have roommates again anyway.”[/color] His voice  also took on a slightly teasing tone as he flashed them a grin. [color=#00FF7F]”If you really want to help out though, we can establish a chore-chart, once you’re all settled in. Hope that doesn’t give you any second thoughts?”[/color]

[color=#0080FF]”Nay. I might be unsure as to what a chore-chart is, as I’m still inexperienced with the customs of this time, but I’ll defer to Arf’s judgement for now.”[/color]

[color=D0661E]”Arf.”[/color]

[color=#00FF7F]”Yes.”[/color]

Giving Arthur’s shoulder a final pet and Arf’s fur a quick ruffle, James took a step into the kitchen, taking out one of the tupperware containers filled with some leftover waffles (he might have gone a [i]little[/i] overboard with breakfast) before heading to the door. [color=#00FF7F]“Right. I’m just going to run these over to Mrs. Kowalski and go grab the laundry from the dryer. There’s leftovers in the fridge if you get hungry while I’m out.”[/color]

As the door closed behind James, Arthur was left with his furry companion in what he still thought of as a royal chamber. Looking at Arf, something just felt off. This animal had shown him that it was far more than some wild beast. In fact it showcased a level of intelligence he had rarely seen of most normal people. It was quite perplexing to say the least. [color=#0080FF]“Say, boy, this may sound odd but do you actually have a name?”[/color]

Two barks this time. [color=D0661E]”Arf, Yip.”[/color]

[color=#0080FF]”This just won’t do. I wish you knew how to write.”[/color]

Arkin stood up on all fours. This could be his chance. [color=D0661E]”Arf!”[/color]

Arthur’s eyebrow cocks up at the sudden reaction. [color=#0080FF]”Wait, can thee write?”[/color]

In response, the wolf looks Arthur dead in the eye and [i]nods.[/i] If there was ever any doubt about the wolf’s ability to understand speech, they’re gone now.

Arthur grins childishly for a moment before holding up a placating hand. [color=#0080FF]”Just wait right there! I shan’t tarry!”[/color] Spinning up from his spot on the couch Arthur bolted to the kitchen and began scrounging for what he needed. More than once did he find something that truly confused him, but he didn’t allow himself to get distracted. It wasn’t long before he came rushing back with a notepad and a pencil. After a few frantic moments of writing he set the pad on the floor revealing he had written out the alphabet, albeit poorly. [color=#0080FF]”Could you show me how to spell thine name?”[/color]

Looking at the letters written in [i]runic,[/i] Arkin had to regretfully shake his head before pawing at the pencil in Arthur’s hand until he released it. [color=#0080FF]”Oh?”[/color]

Arkin began, with great difficulty, flipping over the paper and writing English characters on the back. After spending nearly a full minute trying to grip a pencil between his two front paws and drawing a crude ‘A’, Arthur realized his mistake. Kind of.

[color=#0080FF]”Oh! You know the king’s speech!”[/color] At this revelation Arthur promptly started a new sheet with the archaic latin alphabet, before promptly sliding it over with a grin. [color=#0080FF]”’Tis better?”[/color]

Arkin nodded, but after staring at the paper for a few conflicted seconds, he began tearing it up, carefully separating the letters into little pieces. After tearing about half of it up and wracking his memory over which latin letters represent which english ones, he rearranged some of them to spell out his name: ‘𐌀𐌓𐌊𐌉𐌍’.

[color=#0080FF]“Arkin? Is that your name, boy?”[/color]

A nod.

[color=#0080FF]“Arkin! You are Arkin!”[/color] Arthur couldn’t stop himself from lunging forward and wrapping his arms around Arkin’s body, engulfing him in a tight hug as he celebrated this newfound connection he’d made with his furry friend.[color=#0080FF]”Thou art a truly magnificent creature. I will begin work on larger letters post-haste so that we might begin communicating with further ease!”[/color]

Arkin simply sat back, watching with the canine equivalent of a smile. He thought he’d have more to say, but now that he’s finally getting the opportunity to do so, his mind went blank, unable to think of anything but the Latin alphabet and Arthur’s innocent smile. They got so occupied exchanging pleasantries that they didn’t even notice James return.

Mrs. Kowalski was very appreciative of the waffles, pinching James’ cheek and promising him a batch of cookies that weekend as thanks. James mentally fist-pumped. Score! Mrs. K makes the [i]best[/i] cookies. He grabbed the laundry without problems and quickly folded the clothes before leaving the laundry room. He then made a quick stop at his mailbox in the building, balancing its contents on the hamper, before heading back. Nodding at his new roommates, he placed the mail on the kitchen counter before leaving the room to put the laundry away.

Only when he returned did he realize that two of the letters were addressed to [i]‘Arthur Pendragon, one true king of the holy land of Britannia, protector of the weak and downtrodden.’[/i] and [i]‘Big Wolf Thing’[/i]. He also received a letter addressed to himself. Without thinking much of it, he handed the other two their letters, not paying much attention to their activities, before opening his own.

Arthur was perplexed, to say the least. Guessing from the look on James’ face, it wasn’t abnormal for people to receive mail like this, but having never received a letter before, he found it odd that not only had he just received a letter, but it was also written in English, using strange Latin characters, (is this normal here?) and addressed to him in the manner he had introduced himself the other day. Conceding to his curiosity he opened the letter.

[quote]To Arthur Pendragon, one true king of the holy land of Britannia, protector of the weak and downtrodden,
It has come to our knowledge that you have made your way to our junction in time. Our organization has prided itself in protecting many powerful artifacts that could spell trouble for the world if they fell into the wrong hands. We are descended from the organization you started, The Knights Of The Round. Long have we held onto a holy relic that was once in your possession. You may know it as the holy blade Excalibur. We wish to return it to you, and provide you with any aid we can in allowing you to protect this land and its people.
Merlin himself entrusted us with making sure you would one day receive this relic, and it would be our most humble joy to finally see it reunited with its master. If you would be so kind as to meet us at the address located below, we would love to finally meet you and, with your permission, join you in your crusade to save this society from villainy. We look forward to finally meeting the great King Arthur in person.
[right]Yours Truly, Greg The Wise[/right][/quote]
Utterly baffled by what he had just read, Arthur was unsure of what to believe. If what the letter said was true, then the sword had been removed from the stone and could now be wielded by anyone. That, or it was a trap. Either way, Arthur knew to go prepared. Almost instinctively Arthur’s entire demeanor changed as he dropped the letter where he stood and marched off to get changed. A short while later he emerged from the back room. He had traded his borrowed civilian clothes for his combat garb. A pair of black leather pants with matching leather jacket, a plain black t-shirt, and a pair of black steel toed boots. He had also taken the time to reattach his sword and his quiver to his belt as well as grabbing his bow. His face was now completely devoid of emotion as he mentally prepared himself for another battle.

[hr]
Opening his letter wasn’t easy for Arkin. He gave it an earnest attempt but it only took a few seconds for him to give up and rip the envelope to shreds, exposing the message beneath. He’ll gather up the shredded paper later.

[quote]To the wolven hero,
My employer said I had to write you this letter, even though he wasn’t sure you would be able to read it. If you’re a transformed hero, you’ll have to forgive our confusion, since you remained transformed all the way back to your address.
We would like to cordially invite you to the attached address for an interview. This invitation is open to any wolven hero, intelligent wolf, or owner/legal custodian of supernaturally large wolves, though bringing the wolf in question is a prerequisite. In addition to providing information and aid for newly established heroes, our organization aims to research all things falling particularly far out of the norm, such as the existence and intelligence of super-animals or the potential limitations of transforming in [i]or out[/i] of alternate forms enabled by super-abilities. As remuneration for your time, our organization is prepared to offer a lifetime’s supply of high-quality dog food, as well as any of our specially designed dog toys that you may find appealing.
[right]Best Regards, Greg

P.S. I’ve always loved dogs. If you don’t mind, I’d love to meet you just to give you some pets. I promise I won’t make it weird if you’re actually human.[/right][/quote]
Arkin grimaced at the thought of eating actual dog food. [i]It’s called dog food because it’s unfit for human consumption.[/i] There’s probably some gourmet shit out there but he’d rather go back to hunting wild animals and eating them raw than degrade himself like that. He was still a human on the inside and wanted to be treated as such, dammit. There was something about this Greg guy that really rubbed him the wrong way.

[hr]
James’ face was completely blank as he examined the envelope’s contents, not a single twitch crossed his face. Only his fingers tightening on the envelope - crumpling the paper slightly - showed his distress at what he saw. 
There were three photos and a letter.
The first picture showed a woman and a little girl laughing through their kitchen window, the second of a man and woman walking in the park with two toddlers and the final one featured an older couple working in the garden. It was obvious none of the participants were aware of the camera. 

[quote]To the hero Medic, also known as Mr. James Harris,
I apologize for any distress our letter might have caused and we assure you that no harm was brought to your loved ones. My employers simply felt it necessary to inform you of the potential risk they face given your recent career change. Now while we pose no threat, the same cannot be said about other, less savory, folks.
Our organization is specially designed to give up-and-coming heroes like yourself aid, as well as helpful tips and specially designed courses to aid in developing your skills. One of the many lessons you’ll learn is methods to protect your loved ones and your identity more effectively. Judging from the foiled caper at the museum last night, you seem like a prime candidate.
An interview has been scheduled for you tonight. It is recommended you attend; simply follow the directions on the back of the letter to reach the destination.
[right]Best Regards, Greg[/right][/quote]
Taking a seat at the kitchen counter, James put the letter down and buried his face in his hands taking a deep breath. Seeing those pictures had to have been the single most terrifying moment of his life. The letter might not have been intended as a threat, though it might as well have been one. There’s nothing he wants to do more than to rip up the [i]invitation[/i], show them that he doesn’t want anything to do with a place that deals in emotional blackmail, but he couldn’t. Obviously, he was easier to track than he imagined, Greg’s people having found his family in less than a day after his first time getting involved with actual hero-work. If this place could teach him how to be better, keep his family untraceable, doesn’t he owe it to them to go? On the other hand, what if he doesn’t go and they decide to use more extreme ways of getting their point across? James needs to go to the interview tonight, but he won’t be going unarmed. He’ll have to dig his old bat out of his closet. Noble as their intentions might have been, he’ll make sure that they understand that his family is off limits…

[hr]
[color=#00FF7F]“I take it ya’ll got sketchy invitations too?”[/color]

[color=#0080FF]”Aye.”[/color]

[color=D0661E]”Arf.”[/color]

[color=#00FF7F]“Ya’ll gonna go?”[/color]

[color=#0080FF]”Aye.”[/color]

[color=D0661E]”Arf.”[/color]

[color=#00FF7F]“Alright. What do you boys want for dinner tonight? I doubt they’ll be providing food.”[/color]

Arkin kept the contents of his letter to himself as he described to James what kind of meat dish he was in the mood for, in great detail: [color=D0661E]”Arf.”[/color]

Eager to unveil his newly learned information Arthur let his guise slip for a moment. He could only guess based off of previously shared meals, before he hooked a thumb towards his furry friend with a wry smile. [color=#0080FF]”Arkin says he wants steak.”[/color]

[color=#00FF7F]“Arkin, huh?”[/color] James gave the two of them a grin. [color=#00FF7F]”That suits you. I’ll see about whipping some up.”[/color]