thatkindofcroft | 7

7 :: Video

[Private to the Admiral]

I'd like to request a female whippet puppy, please. It's a touch worrying to think about how you source live animals but if you could get her from a rescue shelter in my world, I'd be very grateful.

I'll need everything to care for her as well, please. [There is a list.] Actually - times two, for Morgana as well. Joint custody, as it were.

Thank you.

[Filtered away from Morgana]

[Lara's sitting crosslegged on the end of her bed. The room looks a lot tidier than it has in previous transmissions.]

So, Morgana and I are joining the Barge's number of dog owners, just as soon as the Admiral responds to my request. I've been reading up and I feel that I'm as ready as I'll ever be, but any pointers from more experienced parties would come in handy.

And obviously we'll need to start socialising once she's settled in, with people and other dogs, so any offers there wouldn't go amiss either. Thank you. [Though Lara is obviously going to be quite particular about who gets to play with their puppy thank you all very much 8|]

Oh, and I ought to say I'm sorry if I was particularly obnoxious to anyone while I was twelve.

[Private to James]

Not to you, though. You were a dickhead of the first order. [She sounds amused though.]

[Private to Morgana, a couple of hours later]

Can you come to my cabin after your shift, please?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Lara raises her voice a little to be heard. There's laughter in her tone, not least because she's playing with a little red fawn puppy who's freaking out all over her bed and generally being tiny and hyper.]

Morgana? Come in, it's open!

[Oh god lara already did the thing. She can hear the barks before she even turns the door, and she wonders if it wouldn't be best to just turn around and go back to her cabin.

But she opens the door and eyes the two of them, eyebrows inching up.]

Energetic, isn't she.

[Hell yes she already did the thing. Can't be giving you the opportunity to realise you don't have to participate.]

She's just a baby. Give her a few minutes and she'll be worn out.

[She wiggles her fingers against the duvet and smiles when the as-yet-nameless puppy goes diving after them, mouthing harmlessly at her hand.]

How was work?

[But it was a realization she wanted!! Morgana closes the door behind her and wanders closer, eventually holding her fingers out for sniffing and licking.]

Quiet. [Seems like most days it is, and when it isn't - well, she doesn't particularly want to think about having to heal Felix.] What is she?

[There is a little bit of oh gosh new person new smells freaking out and Morgana gets approximately all of the licking and some excited play-bowing before she goes rolling off like a maniac again.]

She's a whippet. They were originally bred for sight-hunting rats and small game like rabbits.

[That is an intense amount of licking and oh god this is more excitement than she was prepared for, this is a lot of excitement. She sits lightly on the edge of the bed and even sits still when Nameless bounces back over.]

She'll love the CES, then. [And sunlight is generally a good thing for people too, Morgana.]

Maybe a bit too much, for the time being. The last thing I want is for her to go haring off after a squirrel and then never see us again.

[Nameless wedges herself in the space between Lara and Morgana and sits on her haunches, wagging tail sweeping against the duvet. Lara smiles and scritches behind her ears.]

But walking her on a lead in there is a good idea. All three of us need a bit of fresh air and sunshine now and then.

[It's cute and warm this is a problem. Or will be a problem. Morgana's just eying her and then inching over so there is more space and less wedging.]

Now and then. [But okay she'll just. pat her back. Not remotely awkwardly.] What will she need? [how do dog care, Lara]

A name, at some point. [Brief sideways glance. Give it a name and then it's yours, Morgana, you're invested in it.]

But she'll be quite straightforward. She'll need feeding, exercising, training, and once she's a bit more settled in we'll have to introduce her to other people and dogs on the ship so she'll be comfortable around strangers.

[Wow that doesn't make it terrifying or anything.] We can't just call her Dog? [No she will. Think about it. Or put it in front of Cassel and he spout names until she likes one.]

She seems plenty comfortable around strangers. [Note the wedging.]

No, we can't just call her Dog.

[That's kind of undignified Morgana, geez. Also the name of a current dog-shaped warden, so that'd be awkward.]

And we don't want her to be quite this friendly with everyone. It's not as if everyone's going to be this friendly back.

[Gosh, so picky. She scratches under the dog's chin, then lifts her head so she can study her face.]

We'll come up with something. [And that might be the faintest of grimaces.] Given how many animals are living in these halls, I suppose you have a point. [She doesn't just mean animals.]

[Lara's smile fades; the implication is caught easily.]

Exactly.

[Nameless decides being looked at is boring and she decides to find out how many of Morgana's fingers she can fit in her mouth instead.]

I'll look after her overnight for the time being. Apparently they won't be able to sleep through for the first few weeks and you need your sleep more than I do.

[And...it's very rare that Lara sleeps more than two or three hours at a time anyway.]

[oh my god dog what are you doing. Morgana's nose scrunches and she pulls her hand away. She'll just dry her fingers on the dog's coat and keep her hands out of reach, you weird little mongrel.

Morgana just arches her eyebrows at that; Lara is actually getting less sleep than her lately, that is impressive.]

If you're sure. [Not that she's falling over herself to volunteer.]

I'm sure. Your work's a little more important than mine in the grand scheme of things.

All right. I can come get her after my shift. [But for the record she still doesn't know how this happened. Now how is she going to mope in bed all day.]

[It's almost like Lara has some kind of ulterior motive!!]

Alright. Try and bring back a name for her, if inspiration strikes.

[And Nameless has discovered Morgana has an elbow and has started mouthing at that instead because the fingers are out of reach now.]

[what nameless stop what are dogs!! She's just yanking her elbow away and standing. There, try it now brat.]

I hope she chewed on you this much.

[She's just going to stare at you with huge doggy eyes now but Morgana you're delicious.]

She did. But she's just mouthing - it's how puppies play, it's harmless.

[no, oh my god dog, eat kibble. Morgana is crossing her arms and eying huge puppy eyes. Nope. No effect. Totally without effect. So there?]

It's disgusting. [There is still drool on her fingers.]

And I'm sure you were completely dignified when you were a few months old.

She's that young?

Yes. Don't worry, that's normal. If they're young it helps them bond.

[Nameless is getting squirmy again so Lara gives her a hand to play with.]

[But why is their bonding Lara. Bonding is hugely frightening. There's minimal nose wrinkling while she watches the puppy, at least. She'll even reach out to pet the top of her head while she's busy.]

Will you name her, if I can't think of one?

I have much more faith in you than that, Morgana.

[That'd be a no, then.]

7 :: Video

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