004 | video

[swagneto]

[ Dogs usually don’t leave their owners, certainly not one that’s spent the past few weeks attached at the hip to Erik, whom he’d been spending enough time trying to train to keep up with himself. He wasn’t fond of dogs in the slightest, not when his own childhood had instilled a healthy fear of them as adults, knowing full well what an aggressive dog would do at the bidding of its owners. But this particular puppy was altogether a different case, from her first interaction with Erik that resulted in her managing to trip him over onto his back, to wanting to curl up at the foot of his bed, fully intent on following him everywhere.

Which should have been expected until Erik finally realized she had gone missing one particular moment, having left his vicinity and padded along ahead of him, while he was preoccupied by attempting to make a broadcast: ]

I don’t suppose anyone knows where I can get some dog food? [ Which happens to be said as he enters the kitchen -- ] Unless scraps off the table work well for everyone else with a dog? [ Pausing midstep, Erik considers his words for a moment before continuing. ]

And for that matter, I seem to have misplaced a dog.

[ Not an admission Erik is inclined to usually make, because it’s a slip up; and that’s one thing Erik has never willingly admitted made. If anything, his tone is a bit firm when he continues, because he won’t concede that the puppy is his. A puppy, but not his puppy. ] Small, brown and black. Answers to the name of Anya.

[ There’s a pause as Erik considers trying to add to that description, but he holds back, choosing instead to enter the kitchen, device upturned towards the scene ahead of him ]

Hey, where’d you come from? You hungry?

[ That scene being one Alex Summers with said puppy in arms, facing the fridge with his back turned to Erik and his camera. There’s almost something of a… pleasant, playful sort of tone interrupting Alex’s typical dour monotone as he speaks to the German Shepard puppy in his arms, one hand holding the fridge door open. ]

Let’s see, we got… chicken? [ a glance to the puppy ] No? Don’t like chicken? Okay, uhm. Beef? Beef’s good for dogs, right? [ The puppy gives a happy bark, so the Tupperware of beef gets pulled out and Anya gets set on the group as Alex pulls some out for her, kneeling in front. ] Okay, here, I’ll toss it up and you catch it. Ready? One, two, three--

[ Up goes the beef in the air and up jumps puppy to snap at it, Alex grinning as the dog takes the moment after she scarfs the meat to hop into his lap, licking at his face. ] Good girl! Oh, come on, gross.

Gross? [ Erik’s own monotone voice comes off screen, where the phone is still aimed at the younger mutant and said puppy looking far too eager at the prospect of being spoiled by Alex. First Charles, then Raven and Havok,and now him. It’s clear he’s annoyed by the fact that his puppy once again is pleased by the new company, the slightest bit of possession now evident. ] I like to think she’s better trained than that.

Erik-- [ Deer in the headlights look is go as Alex snaps up to stand, the puppy forgotten for the moment as he appears slightly mortified that any of that was witnessed. He coughs, clearing his throat, and glances around as a hand scratches at the back of his head ] I, uh, she looked hungry, so… Yeah, I dunno, I think it’s just a thing all dogs do…

[ Waaaaait… ]

...This is your dog?

[ Setting aside the phone on the counter, Erik kneels down for the puppy, offering her a hand before he speaks up. ] Come here, Anya. [ Which happens to work, as he trots over, far too happy once again before Erik picks her up, already far too heavy to even need Erik’s possessiveness. ] Mine.

[ As if that made it obvious. ]

She doesn’t need you spoiling her. [ And just a little psychotic sounding too, as Erik reaches for his phone. ]

[ There’s a snort and an eyeroll that come from Alex at that, embarrassment forgotten for the moment that he’s annoyed with Erik yet again. ] Whatever. [ And as Erik reaches for the comm device Alex happens to catch the blinking red light on the front of it that generally signals it’s recording. ]

...Is that on?

Yes. [ You were saying, Alex? ]

...Make it off.

[ For a moment Erik simply stares at him, contemplating acquiescing to his request.] No. [ Which is accompanied by his usual shit eating smirk as he sets Anya back down on the ground. ]

[ Okay fuck this noise, Alex did not sign up for dealing with your shit tonight, Erik. He’s just going to brush on past him to leave, exiting out the kitchen door. ]

[ Which is perfectly fine with Erik, except you know, said dog seems inclined to follow Alex out. ] Damn it. Anya -- [ Apparently that’s the most useless thing said by Erik, as he slams the phone shut, ending the conversation before chasing after his dog. ]

Comments

[video]

[jurisimpudent]

[Edgeworth watches this whole display with a certain degree of bemusement before, finally, turning on the video to respond.]

Your...acquaintance actually rather had the right of it. Lean cuts of meat are perfectly appropriate to keep a dog fed. Avoid certain foods at all costs - chocolate, coffee, onions, and grapes.

[video]

[swagneto]

[ It takes Erik a while to respond, not because of the answer he's given, but simply because the impression left on him about Edgeworth was not one that was helpful.

He casts the man a particular look, raising an eyebrow at the suggestion before responding. ]

I had no intention of feeding her chocolate to begin with, though I suppose meat would be a given. Anything else?

[video]

[jurisimpudent]

No - most people know not to give chocolate, but onions are one that dogs are often fed by unknowing owners. In any case...I've heard also that there are certain vegetables which contribute necessary vitamins to keep dogs healthy. Sweet potatoes and broccoli are good for them, I believe.

[video]

[doomhoops]

Thank you. [ Seriously, it's nice to hear Erik was wrong about something. ] And thanks for the information too. I knew chocolate was bad - didn't know about the others.

[video]

[jurisimpudent]

Quite. Do bear in mind, though, that our diet should never be their diet. Restrict your scraps only to that which is appropriate to a carnivore with some slightly omnivorous tendencies. Bread is not something they should be eating, nor processed sugars, nor processed foods of any type.

text;

[puppydogeyes]

No dog food here.
Raw meat might make her sick.
Might = who the fuck knows with space meat.
Don't give her scraps.
I can make you a recipe for her.
Grains + veg + meat = balanced.

text;

[swagneto]

I was hoping you'd respond.

[ He really did, Tyke. ]

What would I owe you for that?

text;

[puppydogeyes]

[He knows about her pathos, it makes sense that he'd want her input on that level, right.]

Could have just messaged me.
Nothing.
You know how old she is?
How much she weighs?

text;

[doomhoops]

It was already cooked, not raw, just not heated up. Don't know about space meat though. Not my dog, but good to know you'll be doing that for her.

text;

[puppydogeyes]

Couldn't tell from the vid.
They keep both in the fridges.
It's nothing.
Dogs is what I do.

[excessivehubris]

[Charles was somewhere with tables busy copying notes from the papers taken from the Science Department. At the sound of both Erik and Alex's voice, he glanced up, watching the end of the exchange with the puppy and chuckling.]

She's a puppy, Erik. Letting her socialize with people is important. I'm certain Alex won't teach her too many bad manners.

[swagneto]

[ Cold as Erik can usually be, he's a little bit more open towards Charles after their last exchange, offering the man a thin smile as he glanced at the connection, turning away from Anya for the briefest moment. ]

He already had her raiding the fridge, Charles! [ Because Erik does disapprove entirely of that. ]

[excessivehubris]

Yes, well I admit, Alex could use a bit of house training himself. [He says this with all the affection in the world Alex and Alex!]

However, unless she develops a thumb I think we can safely assume she will not be raiding the refrigerator any time in the near future.

[For the record, he is heroically keeping away from the 'mine' part of that conversation.]

[voice]

[doggedly]

Adorable. Only where did you even manage to find a dog on this ship, that's more the mystery that I want to solve.

[voice]

[swagneto]

It's something I'd like to know myself.

[ Especially after the most recent bit of monsters on the loose -- of course Erik is wary. ]

I found her in one of the storages, but I suppose if I die, we'll know the ship was responsible.

[voice]

[doggedly]

[A pause.]

You think-- the puppy is going to kill you.

video;

[tumbleweeds]

Puppy! [ ... yup that's all she has to say. Enjoy the twenty-seven-year-old shapeshifter acting like a small child over the puppy. ]

video;

[swagneto]

[ You would be excited, Jaye, because Erik just stares back, entirely caught off guard by that. ]

I suppose asking you if you like dogs is out of the question, then.

video;

[tumbleweeds]

[ It's okay Erik, she's more focused on your dog than you right now anyway. ]

Of course I like dogs. Can I play with her?

[voice]

[doomhoops]

Belongs to a jackass, though.

video

[redhotsummers]

Did you really say 'mine'?

[Alex snorts, more than amused.]

What are you, five?

video

[swagneto]

[ Yes he did, Alex, don't make fun of him. ]

Far older than that, as you know. [ Erik shakes his head, letting Anya run ahead towards Alex. ]

I don't see why Alex had to spoil her, that's all.

video

[doomhoops]

He did.

He is.

[ Seriously, he was just feed the dog, calm your tits, Erik ]

[theshabbiestofmen]

Where on earth did you get a dog? I'll assume for the moment you have others answering your questions.

[swagneto]

[ Hi Remus, have a bemused look right back at you, because he really doesn't know how a dog ended up wandering out of storage to come up to him. Erik gives a shrug before he turns serious, his tone a bit cautious. ]

Storage. She was wandering around there as a friend and I returned to my room.

[ He knows what you're thinking -- after the events of that particular maze, anything could be dangerous at this point. ]