ataraxion | [text + bonus 30 second wolf video]

[The post begins with a direwolf, peering with sharp curiosity into the device. It is a short video; it lasts only for about a minute, just long enough to take in the sheer size of the direwolf--large enough to fill the frame until he shifts to sniff at the device, and then you can see that he's very large indeed, and not only because of the perspective. But he's friendly-looking, for a wolf, ears pricked, eyes bright--and then the video ends.]

--

This is a direwolf, called Summer. There are six direwolves aboard this ship, and they are all of House Stark. They are not a threat to anyone save to those that might mean threat to the Starks. They are not pets and they are not tame, but they are not wild either. They will not bite you without reason. If they cause some mischief, you need only inform any of my House, and we will make right whatever they have wronged.

People are often afraid of direwolves. You need not fear any of our six. You may be wary but do not attack or provoke them and they will do you no harm. They are rarely apart from us so there should be no reason to do so. But I thought it should be said, as there are new people aboard this ship.

I am Bran of House Stark, and by my word, Summer will not harm you. If you would like to meet Summer, you may.

[SO THERE. And Bran might end there, all that having been said, but... a few seconds later, and he adds:]

I have some questions, too. I am looking for someone that might perform a wedding. And I am looking for people that might know of [--and this is more delicate to say--] transformations.

Thank you.

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Perhaps. But I do not think they would be very interesting for very long. I have caught mice before but I always let them go. Perhaps mice are more interesting in other places or hamsters more interesting than I think.

[So that's settled. But the rest of it...]

I do not think anyone would want a hamster or a mouse for their sigil. But what do you mean by shots?

[This is probably true enough. Despite all the Vor crests with their arcane symbology that he's familiar with, he can't recall seeing a round-cheeked hamster on a single one.]

Y'know... innoculations? Jabs? Stick a needle full of God-knows-what into you and it keeps you from getting sick later on?

[Ivan mimes plunging a needle into his own upper arm, right around the deltoid, where he's received numerous preventative measures against everything from exotic galactic plagues to childhood illnesses. Ah, modern medicine, even on backwards Barrayar.]

Keeps your little--er, big--beastie from becoming a plague vector and public health menace? You've done that, right?

[oh my god you are blowing his mind. Bran stares at the video for a few moments, trying to make sense of what this man is saying. Doctors are different than maesters--even sickness is different aboard this ship--but he still cannot make sense of in-ock-you-lations.]

Our direwolves do not have any sickness. They would not like needles jabbed at them.

Edited (gdit subject lines) 2012-10-12 19:29 (UTC)

[Ivan looks pained. Oh God. He is going to die of wolf-plague on a strange ship.

Deep breaths. Wolf-plague might not even be a real thing. Or it could be a species-specific disease. He takes some small comfort in that thought.]

Well, nobody likes 'em. It's a pain in the ass--sometimes literally--but the point is, you get 'em now and it keeps you from getting sick later.

But wolves do not catch the sicknesses of people, no more than dogs do. They would catch sickness from each other and none of our six are ill. Why would a wolf need to get a shot?

[He starts to say several things, but nothing beyond several false-start syllables that don't mean anything on their own get out. He needs a licensed biologist around for this. Or a doctor. Someone he can point in the right direction while he slips discreetly away. Sadly, Ivan is all that is currently around to try and explain zoonotic diseases. When he finally manages to make his words all go in the correct order, he's speaking slowly.]

There are a whole lot of diseases that get passed from animals to people and back again. It's how some diseases get worse. It's something the DNA--the little bits that make up the disease, I mean--does. Mixes it all up and spits it out twice as nasty. If either a person or an animal doesn't get that disease in the first place, then it makes it harder for it to mix up later on. Does that make any sense?

[He hopes it does. It's been years since his mandatory biology classes, and while he knows enough about genetics to look properly interested when flirting with Cetagandan ghem girls, he is by no means an expert.]

[Bran tries to make sense of all that is said the first time, but has to give up and listen again. And then once more, carefully, trying to separate what he understands from what is yet mysterious about the explanation. DNA makes no sense, but there are diseases that dogs might get--madnesses--that they can pass on through biting.]

I think I understand. But we would know if they had some disease. Surely we would see some mark of it. And the direwolves are not known to bite people that are not a threat, so we are safe. [but... a pause... because this is really troubling--] I think we are safe.

[and then some time later--]

What is your name?

[Ivan decides to drop the subject of diseases. He's hit just about the extent of his knowledge on the subject. Besides, the key phrase: "I think I understand" has been said. That's good enough for him if it doesn't involve Ivan directly.]

Captain Ivan Vorpatril. Good luck with your wolf... thing.

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