[jaunt] Meanwhile, back in Liminal Space...

[fruitknife]

[Suddenly, on the network, there's a bark, followed by a long whine.

Anyone who's met Koromaru can probably guess it's him; certainly Minako would know at once. And while there's not quite words to it, it's not a bark for barking's sake, either, and psychic communication is way better at conveying a dog's thoughts and feelings than meatspace sounds. (You know, unless you have a robot to translate.)

Hi guys! He's booooooored. Is Shinji okay?]

Comments

[seestheworld]

[What.]

...Koro-chan?

[fruitknife]

[Minako! Hi Minako! Is Shinji okay? He's usually back by now but it's been weeks and Koromaru's boooooooored.

Yes, all of that in a couple of barks, but having heard Aigis' translations before, hopefully that's not too much of a surprise.]

[seestheworld]

He's all right as far as I've seen? I mean, I haven't talked to him today or anything, but he's doing okay so far.

[Probably a bit stressed, though, considering.]

[fruitknife]

[Okay good. How much longer is this gonna take? 'cause you said beforehand it's probably not dog-friendly.]

[seestheworld]

Prrrrobably about a couple of weeks, or week-equivalents. If things go according to the usual pattern, it'll be really hectic for at least the first half of that, and then start to slow down a bit.

[fruitknife]

[awwwwwwwww. Okaaaay.

It's just that Koromaru's really bored, especially now that the screaming guy and Helena's friends have left.]

[seestheworld]

Not a lot to do in Liminal Space, huh?

[Minako can sympathize. So can Mothman and Suzaku, probably.]

[fruitknife]

[The shrine's great and all, but even he can only run around it so many times.]

[seestheworld]

...And out here, you'd be stuck as either a Function or a Bit, and Mothman at least can attest that the latter is no fun at all.

[Everybody be glad Mothman's not on the network.]

[fruitknife]

[Yuck. Koro's way more complex than a Bit.]

[seestheworld]

Yes, you are.

[As is Mothman, hence the disgruntlement.]

[fruitknife]

[Can you come play for a while, Minako? Pleeeeeeeeeeease?

(Sadly, since Shinji hasn't managed image projection, she'll have to imagine the puppy eyes.)]

[seestheworld]

[There's a short pause while Minako considers her options.]

I should be able to sneak away for a while, yeah.

[She's used to the puppy eyes, but it's not like he needs to use them with her.]

[fruitknife]

[Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you!!!!]

[seestheworld]

[Hey, it's not like she's having any fun, either. This helps both of them.]

I'll be there in a little bit.

[vrepit_no]

Is that his name? Great! I wasn't sure I was pronouncing it right. ...Actually, I'm pretty positive I wasn't pronouncing it right.

[seestheworld]

His full name's actually Koromaru, but we usually call him Koro-chan for short.

[vrepit_no]

Koromaru. Got it. He's incredibly smart, I wouldn't want to be rude. He came to visit for a while. Is he yours, or Shinjiro's?

[seestheworld]

I think we're kind of his? Although Shinji was the one who summoned him here. Back home, he lived in the dorm with the rest of our team.

[vrepit_no]

Aw man, I'm a little jealous. No pets in our dorms. Those are the ones you know are super family, though, the ones who adopt you when you're not even looking. Think he misses you guys.

[seestheworld]

Well, we did take him in after he was hurt defending the shrine in town. But I don't think he would have stuck around if he didn't want to.

[To say nothing of the whole "going into battle alongside them" thing.]

And... yeah. I try to get back to Liminal Space as much as I can, but this time it's not as easy as I'd like to sneak away. Of course, if he's on the Network now, that at least means we can keep in touch that way.

[vrepit_no]

And he can tell you exactly how bored he is. [He's totally grinning.] None of my furry, feathery or scaly friends have figured this out yet, but they're still in liminal space, so I'll give him the option of going over there. At least he'll have someone to complain to.

[seestheworld]

That too.

[So is she.]

That'd be good. I mean, Suzaku will listen, but she's not really all that playful, and Mothman... does not have the most decipherable thought processes. Or speech. More varied company will probably do him some good.

[vrepit_no]

Roy and Gilmore can at least talk, and Gilmore, Pidge and Hope will play. ...Hoshiko will probably play too, but hopefully she'll be more careful than last time or we'll have to replace the couch. Again. But she's got TC and Magnus to take care of, so maybe that'll keep her out of mischief. ...Why do I have so many animals in my sitting room?

[seestheworld]

...They think it's homey?

[vrepit_no]

They just keep following us home, I swear. The Holtgane Home for Odd Animals.

...
Do you seriously have Mothman? Like, the American Cryptid?

[seestheworld]

That does tend to happen a lot with us in general.

A tiny Mascot-y version who is, uh, an entity unto himself, but yeah.

[vrepit_no]

Well hey there, buddy! I didn't know you were a psychic Shiba! Good boy!

[fruitknife]

[Hi Helena's friend! Koro's glad you're not tied up anymore!

But now it's really boring here.]

[vrepit_no]

Heh. Yeah, I'm pretty glad about it too. I wish you could come with, but I don't think you'd like it much down here. Tell you what, if you go to my rooms in Helena's place, there's two lion cubs, two dragons, and a phoenix who'll hang out with you if you want.

[fruitknife]

[That's a lot of animals!]

[verdeleonessa]

Oh! I once heard a bat over the network but this is a lot nicer! Hey buddy.

[fruitknife]

[Hi! You're friends with Helena's friends, right?]

[verdeleonessa]

Yeah, I've seen you around Helena's sometime, haven't I?

I think Roy is likely being lazy in my room. I could get him out for you if you need company. He's a lion though. Think you'd like a lion for company?

[fruitknife]

[Shinji lives there! Even though he made his own room.

More company would be good! Suzaku doesn't play much and Mothman just wants to eat things.]

[verdeleonessa]

Great! Next time I come back to Liminal, I'll introduce you guys.