Jim often didn't go out in his troll form, but when he did, he stayed in the forest. Usually, he went foraging for ingredients, picking up anything he could eat in both forms. the listed included berries, mushrooms, or rocks and wood. Leaves and grass were options, as were things like socks, but he didn't prefer them. He went about his morning exploration, using the time before dawn to explore the forest.
It was peaceful in the morning, quiet when he could wear a pair of loose shorts and a hoodie that swallowed his human form. A small tail poked out from underneath his hood, small and angular, much like the one Arrrgh has. His horns and face were coerved by his hood, his phone was in his pocket and he had considered getting gloves for his hands, but it was hard to get a pair of gloves for his two different hands. He had his bag with him, ziplocks hidden in the corner pocket for anything he picked up and deemed appropriate to take home.
Frawa often went with him, as did the other goblins, walking along the earth with him and offering whatever scraps of trash they found. In return, Jim liked to give them bits of food he brought with him as a snack for foraging. After discovering a trollish cookbook in the bookstore downtown, he'd taken to trying out new recipes and giving the test treats to the goblins, which they really seemed to enjoy. They spoke quietly to each other, the small group enjoying the tranquility of the forest. Until they heard the snapping of a branch along the forest's floor.
"Fragwa, what are doing out with this young whelp?"
Jim jumped, his ears flinching and moving from the sound of the gravely voice behind him. He turned, pulling his hood down when he saw a tall green troll, horns swooping much like his own. Absentmindedly, he reached up to gently pull on his own, only to get a small bite on his arm from one of the goblins and a soft hiss of warning. He looked at Frawa, frowning.
"I've been saying your name wrong this entire time? why didn't you tell me!" Jim cried, a soft whine bubbling in his throat. He listened to the goblin, watching as it spoke to the tall troll in front of him. He looked at him, confused by the large cape like pair of wings on his back, a vail of feathers resting on his shoulders like a mane. Jim tilted his head, a trill of curiosity escaping him as he looked at the older troll.
"You've befriended the young Changeling, I see. Come closer whelp, let me see you. I've not been made aware of your presence in the Janus order, you're certainly not new either. Now, who are you?"
Jim glanced around, unsure if the older troll was speaking to him or otherwise. He stepped closer, apprehensively sniffing at the air around him.
"I- I- My mom taught me not to talk to strangers..."
That got a small laugh from the older troll, who shifted to his human form. Jim gasped, staring at Mr. Strickler in surprise.
"Y- You... Mr. Strickler!"
An eyebrow rose and Jim panicked, eyes widening in fear. He gulped, adjusting the blue jacket he wore, fiddling with the strings and chewing on it nervously. He didn't like socks much, but clean clothes were absolutely delicious. He shut his eyes, summoning his human form and giving Strickler a nervous smile.
"Young Atlas?"
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After encountering Strickler in the woods, Jim found himself kept after classes, usually to be taught trollish. Out of kindness, he always packed snacks for Strickler to appreciate afterwards. In a way, Strickler became his mentor, and Jim quite enjoyed it.
Somehow, he managed to keep his schedule up between the training and school, finding it helpful that Strickler was Willing to teach him so he could read the books that he'd bought from the bookstore and borrowed from Blinky.
The trolls of Trollmarket seemed to enjoy his treats whenever he went down to train, and they often have him trinkets and traded with him in return. It was peaceful in a way, how he spend his time among the humans, trolls, and changelings, he enjoyed it.
Until they discovered his lies of course.