December 25, 2024 – 8:26 PM
Sydney Podmore — Played by Bee
November 18th, 1894 - Podmore Zoological Gardens
Syd had told Miss Dempsey he would show her any of the zoo's more peculiar creatures and after the event on All Hallows' Eve, Syd had procured a few more exhibits. Right now he was just holding onto Bertram while his handler was away for a couple weeks, which was why he had reached out to Miss Dempsey in the first place. He figured she would enjoy such a creature and his visit was short-lived, so might as well make the most of it.
He hadn't told her just what he had in store, preferring to leave it a surprise. After greeting her at the zoo's entrance, Syd showed her behind the scenes to the pen Bertram was currently occupying. The acromantula was philosophizing about trees, as per usual and Syd didn't know what he was going on most of the time, but it felt like it might be right up Miss Dempsey's alley?
"You requested strange, I have strange. This is Bertram." He motioned to the large, fluffy spider. "He enjoys talking about trees and reading tragedies, according to his handler." Syd was out of his depth beyond that, but thought Miss Dempsey might be in her element, especially with the latter. He had asked Eavan about her odd friend casually, trying not to incur and follow up questions, but it was hard not to tell the redhead about the fence situation and not laugh about it.
January 11, 2025 – 11:33 PM
She hadn’t any sense of what to expect, but she had to hope Mr. Podmore had gleaned enough about her to guess at her tastes. She had wanted strange – this surprise was that for sure.
“I do love spiders,” Porphyria declared, glancing between them with a beam. She had been a little envious of that mauling a couple of years ago in Irvingly; she would have liked to see the Acromantula on the loose, at least, but there had been a lockdown. This, of course, was a captive – but she supposed a captive talking spider would be a captive audience. And that she would be one in turn.
Trees and tragedies were rather hopeful too. “Will you introduce us?” she asked Mr. Podmore – being careful, in case there was etiquette for this sort of thing, the way there was with hippogriffs. Porphyria might rarely care about proper etiquette, but – when there was an audience with an Acromantula on the line, she wouldn’t risk it.
a sublime set by Lady! <3
January 20, 2025 – 10:33 PM
Sydney Podmore — Played by Bee
Pleased he had managed to intrigue her, as she was more intriguing than anyone he had ever met, Syd nodded at her request. There was no real etiquette here, not like with a hippogriff (their hippogriff, Frannie, was particularly nonchalant about it, but she was around people often), but he appreciated the decorum.
"Bertram," he called as he moved over to the bars separating the enclosure from the. "I'd like you to meet a friend of mine. This is Miss Porphyria Dempsey." The spider hadn't moved until Syd mentioned her name and suddenly he was rousing himself from his nap spot to make his way over.
"Porphyria?" He asked, eight eyes peering curiously at the newcomer. "As in Porphyria's Lover?"
Suddenly Syd felt as though he was about to be made into a uncultured fool.
February 25, 2025 – 9:20 PM
She felt almost shy at the introduction, though not because Mr. Podmore had called her a friend of his (she was surprised he had categorised them as friends rather than acquaintances, but nonetheless pleased to become so – people occasionally preferred to keep her acquaintance at arms’ length). No, she was mostly intimidated by Bertram, in case a giant spider proved himself smarter and better read than her. But that he knew Browning was a happy start – “The very same,” Phyri exclaimed, “she who was come through wind and rain.” And who would very swiftly be strangled by her lover for it, in said poem. “I write poems, too. And I hear you are fond of tragedies.”
Her tone was conversational, and her eyes alight as the eight-eyed creature scrutinised her in turn. “Are we allowed to come into the enclosure,” Phyri asked, undecided as whether she would be offered a more enticing answer by Bertram or Mr. Podmore, or it was really too dangerous, “or will that result in my tragic end?” Acromantulas ate people, didn’t they? They ought to talk about that.
a sublime set by Lady! <3
April 12, 2025 – 10:38 PM
Sydney Podmore — Played by Bee
Syd kept stealing glances out of the corner of his eye, mostly to keep an eye on the interaction, though he trusted Bertram far more than most of the creatures in his care. Mostly he didn't want to make himself too conspicuous, though he didn't think Miss Demspey capable of being self-conscious, he did not want to intrude. He moved some things around, stepped out to add fresh water to the little well for drinking, trying to be quiet and unobtrusive while Miss Dempsey recited some of her poetry for the arachnid.
It was hard not to be somewhat awestruck by the fact that she could simply recite the work from memory, but he supposed she had written it, so perhaps it was not as hard? Syd had memorized potions and antidotes and different things for his work during healing, but this felt altogether different; it was sort of mesmerizing and he found himself pausing despite his best efforts to appear occupied.
Bertram clicked his pincers in what Syd assumed was some amalgamation of applause and Syd held back from joining in. He perhaps wasn't so hypnotized by the content, but moreso the imagery and the cadence with with she spoke. Fortunately Bertram was clearly as interested, watching with rapt attention and was able to voice his thoughts, all positive, save for some suggestion on a phrasing, which Syd would have never dared to share, but the spider didn't exactly follow human manners sometimes. "I would enjoy that immensely, you are indeed talented." Syd rather thought he would also enjoy hearing more of Miss Demspey's work and if he had to use Bertram as the conduit, then so be it.
"Bertram is not often so complimentary," Syd joked. In fact the spider was very critical sometimes, but Syd had learned to brush it off. Perhaps he just liked women more, as he let Miss Bixby read to him often and inquired after her when she wasn't in.
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