With a slow, and deep breath, Fyra allowed the man to draw her close to his chest and hold her. Now she could hide. Her face buried into the crook of his neck, she felt herself relax a little. Not trapped. He's not trapping me. She reminded herself, not noticing his heartbeat for the moment. Silence was comforting for that moment.
And then he jumped. Her head flew up, and she stared at him for a blank second before she recognized the ghost woman's name and settled, listening once more to only half the conversation. She didn't really pay attention, trying to not think, but her mind continually ran to the night before, and how she didn't really feel any different this morning. She was still flighty and fearful as ever, and-
He addressed her now, at the exact moment that she realized that she was still completely nude, and sitting on his lap, with only a towel between them. Heat flared in her cheeks, and her eyes widened even ore, her cheeks going, if possible, brighter than before. His easy grin didn't help. This was something he was perfectly comfortable with. Fyra opened her mouth to speak. And closed it as no sound came out. She pushed back a little, part of her wanting to push away and scramble from the room, but a small part of her connected Kaleb with safety, and she also wanted to hide against him.
Her voice was choked. "I've never been much of a good beggar." She ducked her head down, hiding behind her hair, frozen between running away and staying there.
It was a few moments later that she managed to raise her head once more, looking at her lover. "Think we might actually make it to a lesson in thievery today? yesterday we got a bit distracted..." her cheeks flushed again at the thought, and though her small frame quivered on his lap, she kept her eyes to his face.
Never Trust Appearances
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Kaleb Morrington
- Citizen
- Posts: 184
- Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2010 9:31 pm
- Name: Kaleb Morrington
- Race: Human
Re: Never Trust Appearances
Kaleb grinned before kissing her nose, not missing her tense body language. Still scared eh? At least she wasn't bolting... he mused mournfully before reaching around to grip her waist to lift her with him as he stood, not overly pleased with how easy this action was. He turned and deposited her on the bed with a wink.
"That was your fault, I believe, miss. Now, I'll go get our clothes, the clean ones at least, and we'll start with the most basic form of theft - pickpocketing. Once you get good enough, I may even let you loose on the streets and you can," at this he held up his hands and quoted the air with a sober look, "pull your own weight." He dropped the act with a grin and a wink before he sauntered ou of the room - but not before he let the towel fall to the ground.
Chuckling as he padded down the stairs, Kaleb made his way to the clothes and gathered them quickly, whistling a jaunty tune as he dressed then headed upstairs, Fyra's cloths in hand. He tossed her a set before turning his back to give her some privacy - did she still need that? - and told her what was up over his shoulder.
"Alright love, I'm going to head downstairs. As soon as I do - I'm your target. Your only goal as of yet is to get my coin purse off of me without too much trouble. Get used to it, try to avoid tugging on anything, try to make sure I can't feel it. You're free to distract me, bump into me, anything, but get my coin purse without me knowing. Good luck love." And down he went, whistling a tune.
Once at the bottom of the stairs, Kaleb tied a coin pouch with a handful of bishani on his belt - an easy target, but still tricky as she had to try and get it without pulling at his trousers or belt. Good luck indeed...
"That was your fault, I believe, miss. Now, I'll go get our clothes, the clean ones at least, and we'll start with the most basic form of theft - pickpocketing. Once you get good enough, I may even let you loose on the streets and you can," at this he held up his hands and quoted the air with a sober look, "pull your own weight." He dropped the act with a grin and a wink before he sauntered ou of the room - but not before he let the towel fall to the ground.
Chuckling as he padded down the stairs, Kaleb made his way to the clothes and gathered them quickly, whistling a jaunty tune as he dressed then headed upstairs, Fyra's cloths in hand. He tossed her a set before turning his back to give her some privacy - did she still need that? - and told her what was up over his shoulder.
"Alright love, I'm going to head downstairs. As soon as I do - I'm your target. Your only goal as of yet is to get my coin purse off of me without too much trouble. Get used to it, try to avoid tugging on anything, try to make sure I can't feel it. You're free to distract me, bump into me, anything, but get my coin purse without me knowing. Good luck love." And down he went, whistling a tune.
Once at the bottom of the stairs, Kaleb tied a coin pouch with a handful of bishani on his belt - an easy target, but still tricky as she had to try and get it without pulling at his trousers or belt. Good luck indeed...
Re: Never Trust Appearances
Her arms wrapped around his neck as he stood, picking her up with the motion. Squeaking at the way he dumped her onto the bed, she opened her mouth to protest him blaming her for them never doing any thievery the day before. Before a word escaped her, he was already heading out the door though, towel dropping unceremoniously to the ground. With a sigh, Fyra flopped back onto the mattress, pulling a blanket over her for a semblance of decency, if nothing else.
Kaleb returned with her clothing, and she was silently grateful that he turned his back. For all that they had been... intimate, she wasn't sure how she felt about anything with the night before. She wasn't used to not having clothing on. Living on the streets had not exactly allowed her to sleep without them, and before that she had a nightgown. Dressing swiftly in the now clean outfit, she listened to her lover...er...swain...er... boyfriend person guy. She was lacing up the bodice as he headed down the stairs.
Fyra paused at the top of the stairs, and padded softly down them, unsure of herself. She had no experience, so she knew that fumbling would be expected. He probably wouldn't expect her to be any good at it at all for quite a while. That didn't comfort her. Can't just sneak up. In crowds that worked.... Kaleb just knocked into people. She came fully to the lower level, eyes finding the pouch that was hooked at his waist.
She had to stop and take a deep breath. It's a game. I'm not actually stealing from him... Still, gathering her courage to act so out of character was taking her several deep breaths. Another moment passed before she padded towards Kaleb, and barely brushing against him, as though it were just in passing, found the pouch in her hand, her fingers tugging the knot. She thought she had gotten it, a feeling of success flooding through her, but then, as she was continuing her "path," she was stopped by the tug of the pouch still attached to his belt.
"Drat!" She snapped, spinning to glare at the offending item, frustration evident, along with disappointment. No beginners luck, even?
Kaleb returned with her clothing, and she was silently grateful that he turned his back. For all that they had been... intimate, she wasn't sure how she felt about anything with the night before. She wasn't used to not having clothing on. Living on the streets had not exactly allowed her to sleep without them, and before that she had a nightgown. Dressing swiftly in the now clean outfit, she listened to her lover...er...swain...er... boyfriend person guy. She was lacing up the bodice as he headed down the stairs.
Fyra paused at the top of the stairs, and padded softly down them, unsure of herself. She had no experience, so she knew that fumbling would be expected. He probably wouldn't expect her to be any good at it at all for quite a while. That didn't comfort her. Can't just sneak up. In crowds that worked.... Kaleb just knocked into people. She came fully to the lower level, eyes finding the pouch that was hooked at his waist.
She had to stop and take a deep breath. It's a game. I'm not actually stealing from him... Still, gathering her courage to act so out of character was taking her several deep breaths. Another moment passed before she padded towards Kaleb, and barely brushing against him, as though it were just in passing, found the pouch in her hand, her fingers tugging the knot. She thought she had gotten it, a feeling of success flooding through her, but then, as she was continuing her "path," she was stopped by the tug of the pouch still attached to his belt.
"Drat!" She snapped, spinning to glare at the offending item, frustration evident, along with disappointment. No beginners luck, even?
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Kaleb Morrington
- Citizen
- Posts: 184
- Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2010 9:31 pm
- Name: Kaleb Morrington
- Race: Human
Re: Never Trust Appearances
He wanted to laugh so bad it hurt. Instead, he grinned at her. "Knots won't come undone by magic love, not unless you cast the spell. Try again - but slip a claw into the mix - you have the ability to cut things." He reminded her, eyes soft as he watched her. She was trying, and that touched him in so many ways. She was fighting herself, society and everything else in an attempt to make things easier. Maybe he could do the same for her, but he'd have to sort out how without scaring her.
So, instead, he shifted so that his hands were in his pockets and he was moving. "I wouldn't pick-pocket me like this, love. Means I've got something in my pocket I'm keeping safe, means my belt-purse is likely not worth shit." He pulled his hands free, cirlcing her now, and grabbed the laples of an imaginary coat, altering his strut slightly. "I'd pick-pocket me now - but carefully. Hands up are a sign of confidence - something's guarding my biashani." Now he adopted the pose of someone nervous but trying to hide it. Arms crossed, legs strait and constant twitching. "Obviously I've got something, but I'm trying to hide it." Kaleb looks to her before stopping in front of her and grabbing a hand.
"If you can shift this to be a claw, you can cut their purses right off and no-one will be the wiser."
So, instead, he shifted so that his hands were in his pockets and he was moving. "I wouldn't pick-pocket me like this, love. Means I've got something in my pocket I'm keeping safe, means my belt-purse is likely not worth shit." He pulled his hands free, cirlcing her now, and grabbed the laples of an imaginary coat, altering his strut slightly. "I'd pick-pocket me now - but carefully. Hands up are a sign of confidence - something's guarding my biashani." Now he adopted the pose of someone nervous but trying to hide it. Arms crossed, legs strait and constant twitching. "Obviously I've got something, but I'm trying to hide it." Kaleb looks to her before stopping in front of her and grabbing a hand.
"If you can shift this to be a claw, you can cut their purses right off and no-one will be the wiser."
Re: Never Trust Appearances
She looked up at him with a frustrated expression. His words were gentle as he gave her tips, but she still felt frustrated. Fyra forced herself to pay attention as he shifted stances and explained when it was best to pick somebody's pockets. As he took one of her hands, speaking of her shifting, she pursed her lips, eyebrows pulling together a little.
Her gaze dropped from his face to her hand, and she concentrated for a moment, staring at her hand. Focusing on shifting, she felt the itching start, and tried to focus just on her hand shifting. At first, it seemed to be working, and she saw her nails thicken and become sharper, even as her fingers seemed to shorten a bit, and her hand started to bristle.
At the same time, there was a strange feeling as her jaw shifted, lengthening a little, and as her ears crawled up her head, becoming rounded. The feeling distracted her and after a moment of trying to catch simply her hand into the transformation, she felt the magic flood through her and was buried in the folds of her clothing, small and lengthy as a polecat once again. She sighed, beginning to nose her way out of her blouse.
Her gaze dropped from his face to her hand, and she concentrated for a moment, staring at her hand. Focusing on shifting, she felt the itching start, and tried to focus just on her hand shifting. At first, it seemed to be working, and she saw her nails thicken and become sharper, even as her fingers seemed to shorten a bit, and her hand started to bristle.
At the same time, there was a strange feeling as her jaw shifted, lengthening a little, and as her ears crawled up her head, becoming rounded. The feeling distracted her and after a moment of trying to catch simply her hand into the transformation, she felt the magic flood through her and was buried in the folds of her clothing, small and lengthy as a polecat once again. She sighed, beginning to nose her way out of her blouse.
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Kaleb Morrington
- Citizen
- Posts: 184
- Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2010 9:31 pm
- Name: Kaleb Morrington
- Race: Human
Re: Never Trust Appearances
Kaleb blinked when his little polecat shifted into- well a polecat. He crouched and helped her out of her clothes, scooping her up. "You could be an excellent thief this way too." He murmured, petting her thoughtfully. "Don't shift just yet - I want to see something." And so he crouched, deposited her on the floor and stood, arms crossed, gnawing on his lip in thought. Could they do this without being seen? Kaleb snapped his fingers as an idea hit him.
"Stay right there a sec, love, please." And off he jogged, returning within a heartbeat, now wearing a cloak. He bent and scooped her up, holding her to eye level a moment. "Alright love, going to try something else for a moment. I'm going to get you to hang off my belt, or sit in my pocket. If I walk by someone, wanna see if you can get their belt-purses. For now, those 'people' will be my hand. I'll keep purses away and kinda move it by you, see if you can get it off my fingers without too much tugging."
With that he held her at hip level - next to his right leg and waited to see if she'd go for it.
"Stay right there a sec, love, please." And off he jogged, returning within a heartbeat, now wearing a cloak. He bent and scooped her up, holding her to eye level a moment. "Alright love, going to try something else for a moment. I'm going to get you to hang off my belt, or sit in my pocket. If I walk by someone, wanna see if you can get their belt-purses. For now, those 'people' will be my hand. I'll keep purses away and kinda move it by you, see if you can get it off my fingers without too much tugging."
With that he held her at hip level - next to his right leg and waited to see if she'd go for it.
Re: Never Trust Appearances
It was easier for her to get out of her clothing once he lifted it off of her. She didn't protest as he picked her up, though her ears were flat with a bit of disappointment. Why couldn't she just get this shifting thing down? After all, were shifters supposed to have a half-form? Or complete control with everything? She barely heard what Kaleb said as he set her down once more.
As he came back, scooping her up and explaining his idea, she tilted her head in thought as she looked at her paws. They weren't mobile like a racoons might have been, but they were still clever enough she would be able to snag thing. Or she could always catch the pouches with her teeth. He held her by his right leg, and she reached out, hooking her paws over his belt a little, her hindpaws snagging on his clothing and then hooking into his pocket to help her balance. A sling... that's what we need... Maybe. She thought of how to keep herself at his hip without having to worry so much about falling off of him.
Cautiously, she twisted a little, wrinkling her nose in discomfort as his pocket pushed her fur the wrong way, and leaned out a little, trying to see here her balancing point was. Not very far away from him, she felt herself beginning to fall, and pulled herself back. Her small body squirmed, sinking a little farther into his pocket and then she looked up and nodded at him. She could tell him her idea about a sling for her to balance on later. I might need to spend a lot more time in this form though... maybe I can learn to write or something to help communicate. She waited for him to move a pouch past her.
As he came back, scooping her up and explaining his idea, she tilted her head in thought as she looked at her paws. They weren't mobile like a racoons might have been, but they were still clever enough she would be able to snag thing. Or she could always catch the pouches with her teeth. He held her by his right leg, and she reached out, hooking her paws over his belt a little, her hindpaws snagging on his clothing and then hooking into his pocket to help her balance. A sling... that's what we need... Maybe. She thought of how to keep herself at his hip without having to worry so much about falling off of him.
Cautiously, she twisted a little, wrinkling her nose in discomfort as his pocket pushed her fur the wrong way, and leaned out a little, trying to see here her balancing point was. Not very far away from him, she felt herself beginning to fall, and pulled herself back. Her small body squirmed, sinking a little farther into his pocket and then she looked up and nodded at him. She could tell him her idea about a sling for her to balance on later. I might need to spend a lot more time in this form though... maybe I can learn to write or something to help communicate. She waited for him to move a pouch past her.
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Kaleb Morrington
- Citizen
- Posts: 184
- Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2010 9:31 pm
- Name: Kaleb Morrington
- Race: Human
Re: Never Trust Appearances
He waited until she settled, eyes calm, before moving the purse at her nod. It only held a small handful of bishani - not much of a score - but easy enough for her to lift hopefully. She missed completely the first time - which was his fault, he'd had it too far out and had to catch her before she fell. Apologizing and explaining it was a learning curve for them both - Kaleb tried again.
She caught it - but tugged hard enough to bend his fingers. He tugged back, signalling he knew. And so he repeated the action, and with each pass, she got a little better in his opinion. With each failure, he'd suggest something, "try cutting the string." "Aim a little higher." etc.
She caught it - but tugged hard enough to bend his fingers. He tugged back, signalling he knew. And so he repeated the action, and with each pass, she got a little better in his opinion. With each failure, he'd suggest something, "try cutting the string." "Aim a little higher." etc.
Re: Never Trust Appearances
Try and fail. Try again. But as she worked, while her determination stayed, her hind end was starting to hurt, the fur ruffled all the wrong way. It made her irritable and her frustration grew. She watched the pouch as it came closer, and reached out, this time more with her teeth than her paws, and snagged the string with her mouth. With a small 'snick' her jagged molars clicked together, catching cutting the string and catching it. But she had misjudged the distance she had leaned out, and found that the weight of the pouch overbalanced her, sending her out of Kaleb's pocket, and towards the ground. Frantically, she twisted, trying to get her legs under her.
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Kaleb Morrington
- Citizen
- Posts: 184
- Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2010 9:31 pm
- Name: Kaleb Morrington
- Race: Human
Re: Never Trust Appearances
He felt her slip from his pocket and, with a sharp curse, caught her, her claws digging into his skin. Biting back a growl, he lifted her then worked to unhook her claws from his skin. "Well you got it this time." He told her, his voice tight with retraint. "But Ithink we need to avoid the falling bit next time." He took the purse and pulled the broken strong off before adding a new one to the mix and tied it to his fingers again.
"Now lets try this again..."
"Now lets try this again..."
Re: Never Trust Appearances
She had let out a squeak as her slim body slammed into his arm, claws catching and her neck wrenched with the weight of the pouch. He worked her claws loose and as he worked a new string around the pouch, she situated herself once more, her nose wrinkling in a semblance of a snarl as her fur got pushed the wrong way, again. Her ears flattened with annoyance and she had to twist her tail about in order to keep it from kinking.
The sigh that came from her was evident as she tested how far she could lean out of his pocket. Her claws snagged on the inside of the pocket and she twisted, trying to keep from pricking his leg. The next time he brought the pouch near her, she reached out, copying her earlier motion, to snap the string with her molars, and this time pulled herself back, having settled farther in the pocket to hold herself in place.
There was a bare tug on his fingers, and she huffed slightly. Her irritable mood had slid too far. With that final even minor success, she growled slightly audibly as she used her front paws to shove the pouch into his pocket before stretching up, her claws snagging at his shirt in her request for him to pull her from his pocket. Her ears were flat, and her eyes slightly narrowed.
The sigh that came from her was evident as she tested how far she could lean out of his pocket. Her claws snagged on the inside of the pocket and she twisted, trying to keep from pricking his leg. The next time he brought the pouch near her, she reached out, copying her earlier motion, to snap the string with her molars, and this time pulled herself back, having settled farther in the pocket to hold herself in place.
There was a bare tug on his fingers, and she huffed slightly. Her irritable mood had slid too far. With that final even minor success, she growled slightly audibly as she used her front paws to shove the pouch into his pocket before stretching up, her claws snagging at his shirt in her request for him to pull her from his pocket. Her ears were flat, and her eyes slightly narrowed.
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Kaleb Morrington
- Citizen
- Posts: 184
- Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2010 9:31 pm
- Name: Kaleb Morrington
- Race: Human
Re: Never Trust Appearances
Kaleb was about to congratualte her when she tugged his shirt, growling. He looked down and winced. Gently he slipped her from his pocket and sat on the couch, setting her on his lap so he could carefully stroke her fur so it went the right way. He made the motion like a masage, rolling his fingers slightly so that it massaged the muscles underneath. "I can give you a massage as a human, if it'd make you feel better..." Kaleb murmured, moving his hands away for a moment to allow her to shift if she so desired.
Mentally he was beating himself up. Too much at once, I should've let her take breaks... it's not like her stealing is necissary, just helpful! Changers damn it all and myself included...
Mentally he was beating himself up. Too much at once, I should've let her take breaks... it's not like her stealing is necissary, just helpful! Changers damn it all and myself included...
Re: Never Trust Appearances
It still felt strange to be touched as he was touching her at the moment. But the way his fingers soothed the sharp needles of pain in her hindquarters made her sigh. Her tail flipped one way, then the other, loosening the kinked muscles in it, and then settled. His low voice made it to her ears, which were beginning to raise up a little.
She shook her head at his murmur. Not ready to shift back yet, she didn't want to snap at him in a verbal manner. Physically, she could easily hold herself back as a polecat, but she wasn't sure how well she would do at holding herself back verbally if she could speak. She felt like she had been working for hours. Probably have. Fyra shook herself, fluffing her fur with the action and sighing slightly. Turning around, she bumped his hand with her head, slipping under it in a motion that suggested he continue to pet her. For some reason, being pet was soothing.
She shook her head at his murmur. Not ready to shift back yet, she didn't want to snap at him in a verbal manner. Physically, she could easily hold herself back as a polecat, but she wasn't sure how well she would do at holding herself back verbally if she could speak. She felt like she had been working for hours. Probably have. Fyra shook herself, fluffing her fur with the action and sighing slightly. Turning around, she bumped his hand with her head, slipping under it in a motion that suggested he continue to pet her. For some reason, being pet was soothing.
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Kaleb Morrington
- Citizen
- Posts: 184
- Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2010 9:31 pm
- Name: Kaleb Morrington
- Race: Human
Re: Never Trust Appearances
Unable to stop his eyes from softening, Kaleb began to repeat the soothing massage-pet. Having noticed her tail move in a stiff manner, he included the base, eventually working the tail. He didn't say anything as he massaged her, too deep in thought to even speak, and even rolled her over once her back felt like pudding in his hands. Tickling her belly lightly, playfully, before he began her shoulders, he smiled. Hands ran up and down her little polecat sides, relaxing the muscles, before he worked on her little legs and paws.
"I'm sorry I overworked you, love." He murmured at long last, now just stroking her soft underbelly fur. "But to be fair - you've improved quite a bit." He managed a crooked smile.
"I'm sorry I overworked you, love." He murmured at long last, now just stroking her soft underbelly fur. "But to be fair - you've improved quite a bit." He managed a crooked smile.
Re: Never Trust Appearances
He began to pet her again, and Fyra sighed as she let herself relax in his lap. Her body stretched along with thighs, and she slowly began to shove thoughts from her head, allowing anxieties to fall away with the soothing, rolling motions of his hands. She reviewed the tries and failures and successes of the strange pickpocketing lesson, and decided that they would definitely need to make a harness of some sort. Sitting in his pocket had set tiny needles into her where her fur had brushed the wrong way, and her tail had gotten kinked.
For a moment, as he flipped her over she tensed, but his grin disarmed her automatic reaction, and she relaxed again, enjoying the soothing massage that his nimble fingers gave her. It was an odd though, how something that seemed so inappropriate was okay when she was in an animal form. he could touch her nearly anywhere when she was a polecat, because she had "clothing". Her fur covered up everything. And she didn't have breasts or buttocks the same. Maybe this is how I can become comfortable with his touch... It was an odd thought, and one that fled as soon as his voice reached her small, rounded ears, his fingers stroking through her creamy fur.
Dark eyes found his face from the angle she was laying at, twisting her head around. Longer necks are useful... She continued to twist then, her irateness having faded away as her body had been relaxed by her tutor and partner. The polecat stood, reached her body upwards to bump her masked face against his head in her forgiveness of him, and acceptance of his compliment. She was almost reluctant to leave the form she was in. Having never voluntarily spent time in her second form, Fyra was only now beginning to discover it. Short legs, small tail... slender, lithe, and flexible. If she could pick pockets, what sorts of things could she do with cat-burglary? Fyra shied away from that thought, not quite ready to go so far into thievery.
Another moment passed, and she moved, heading off of Kaleb's lap and toward her bundle of clothing on the floor even as she began concentrating on her shifting. She couldn't spend all day as a polecat. It sucked for communicating.
For a moment, as he flipped her over she tensed, but his grin disarmed her automatic reaction, and she relaxed again, enjoying the soothing massage that his nimble fingers gave her. It was an odd though, how something that seemed so inappropriate was okay when she was in an animal form. he could touch her nearly anywhere when she was a polecat, because she had "clothing". Her fur covered up everything. And she didn't have breasts or buttocks the same. Maybe this is how I can become comfortable with his touch... It was an odd thought, and one that fled as soon as his voice reached her small, rounded ears, his fingers stroking through her creamy fur.
Dark eyes found his face from the angle she was laying at, twisting her head around. Longer necks are useful... She continued to twist then, her irateness having faded away as her body had been relaxed by her tutor and partner. The polecat stood, reached her body upwards to bump her masked face against his head in her forgiveness of him, and acceptance of his compliment. She was almost reluctant to leave the form she was in. Having never voluntarily spent time in her second form, Fyra was only now beginning to discover it. Short legs, small tail... slender, lithe, and flexible. If she could pick pockets, what sorts of things could she do with cat-burglary? Fyra shied away from that thought, not quite ready to go so far into thievery.
Another moment passed, and she moved, heading off of Kaleb's lap and toward her bundle of clothing on the floor even as she began concentrating on her shifting. She couldn't spend all day as a polecat. It sucked for communicating.