video;

[priceoffreedom]

[There's a moment where Steve is turning on his device; it still takes him a bit, because he's not quite used to it yet. But now it's video. He's not quite smiling, but there is something lighter about his face.]

I found a dog in the Oxygen Gardens. He seems really friendly, like he's used to people, and he followed me right back out. I gave him some food and some water, but I'm not his owner.

[The camera moves and shows a stately chocolate lab, looking adorable, up at Steve. He is sitting in a "good sit" position, practically vibrating with I'm a good dog, love me rays.]

Does he belong to anyone? I'd like to find him his owner.

Comments

[dissociable]

[ he could just not say anything. he could ignore this and pretend. buddy is dead and buddy is a weakness and yet, it's undeniably buddy sitting there and ward wants, so badly, to bury his hands in buddy's fur and hug the dog and it's a weakness.

hill and fitz both saw him with the dog; they might recognise buddy and wonder why ward didn't step forward if he doesn't. it's a good reason to do it, and yet he can't help but wonder if he's just trying to find some justification because he wants it so badly. can't help but wonder what garrett would have to say about this.

and still — ]

His name's Buddy.

[ none of his thought process shows on his face, expression neutral with just a hint of warmth to it, because the grant ward everyone knows here would not show much, but he's not 100% tin man, either. ]

[priceoffreedom]

[Buddy hears his voice and immediately his tail wags and he noses around, like he's looking for someone, like he's looking for Ward. Steve just looks down.]

Sounds like you two are friends.

[dissociable]

[ buddy has always loved ward unconditionally, and — he shouldn't have gotten attached, but he'd loved buddy just as much. ]

He's not mine, but he stayed with me for a while when I was a kid.

[priceoffreedom]

[Now Buddy is barking, and pawing up towards where Ward's voice is coming from. Steve knows the signs of a dog who has picked his owner.]

Do you want to take care of him now?

video.

[sleuthtastic]

[ Almost immediately: ]

Who's a good puppy? Who's a good puppy?

[ Animals > People with Issues, clearly. ]

video.

[priceoffreedom]

[Buddy barks and turns in a circle]

You like dogs, then?

video.

[sleuthtastic]

Love 'em. Backup followed me all the way into space, so you know what they say about a man's best friend is true.

video.

[priceoffreedom]

I'd offer you this guy but I think he's following someone else into space.

[kutte]

Jesus Christ, forget everything else people are saying we need, we might as well start up a kennel.

[priceoffreedom]

I think a surplus of dogs in space is probably the best outcome we could hope for.

[kutte]

I'd be a lot more inclined to agree if I hadn't just been baby-sitting a pack of 'em.

[priceoffreedom]

Whose pack?

video;

[diplomacy]

[That- as far as she's been able to tell, is a little unusual. The only animals she'd been exposed to on board the ship had come as a packaged, podded deal and none of them have looked quite like that.

She's going to lean a little closer to her device, to get a better look. Curious, and a little charmed]

Beg your pardon- You said he was a dog? [A beat, okay this is a little more important] Is he meant to be that size?

video;

[priceoffreedom]

[He looks over. Buddy is wagging his tail.]

That's about right.

video;

[diplomacy]

[She's a little- well, surprised by the answer]

The direwolves aboard are much larger. [Give her a second to measure you up, and guess you're likely taller than Robb] Their shoulders would be a little under your waist, I presumed the pods had altered him a little.

[Good to know they're currently functioning correctly?]

video;

[priceoffreedom]

Dogs and wolves aren't really the same.

[voice]

[axeyou]

Hey, if no one's claimed it-- can I have it?

[voice]

[priceoffreedom]

You're a few minutes too late.

[voice]

[axeyou]

Really? That's too bad. I could use a dog.

Who got it?

[voice]

[priceoffreedom]

His owner, I think. Ward. Have you met him?

video;

[skjalf]

[ oh, look! the nice-looking boy is using the "hey i have this cute dog" trick to attract the girls. or is he? AND IT WORKS.

elizabeth likes canines! they are a great distraction from the events of the past two weeks. ]

If you have not located his master, may I visit with him a while? He is lovely.

[priceoffreedom]

[Oh no.]

Well...I can't see the harm in it. He's pretty friendly.

[skjalf]

[ hey! ]

I thank you, sir. There were several greyhounds who kept me company at home.

[ to explain briefly. she's going to head up to the gardens now, to try and distract herself. ]

video;

[broke_harlem]

[ Bruce didn't think he'd find a dog anywhere around here, nor did he expect to for some time. Still, when a dog shows up on his feed, he can't help but instantly pay attention. He has his weaknesses. ]

I didn't know dogs could make it through the jump. [ He really wants to pet that dog. Dogs don't shy away from him or try to shoot him. ]

And hello, captain. [ He's happy to see a familiar face who doesn't have him on his target list. ]

video;

[priceoffreedom]

There's a tube for them, I think.

[A pause.]

Have we met?