02 ★ video

[broomwithaview]

[Kiki has thankfully discovered the video function with the help of her newfound friends! As a result, the feed clicks on to her smiling face, tired line beneath her eyes. She waves.]

Hi everybody. I hope this is working...my egg hatched!

[Excitedly, she turns the camera, showing off a short little Minccino...busily dusting off everything, using his tail as a duster.]

He really, really likes cleaning. I named him Sweep. Stop dusting and say hello, Sweep!

[At the sound of his name, the Minccino perks up, turning towards Kiki with a happy peep. She giggles, turning the camera back to herself. She looks a bit sad.]

Did any of you have pets back home? Just curious. [A beat.]

Um, yeah. Bye!

Comments

[usedshooshpap]

WOW WHAT THE FUCK.
IS TODAY JUST THE NATIONAL EGG HATCHING DAY OR WHATEVER?

LMAO oh jesus karkat

[broomwithaview]

[You are so lucky she's sheltered and from the sixties otherwise she'd be all like OMG LANGUAGE]

Maybe some eggs have similar incubation periods?

i am sorry????

[usedshooshpap]

YEAH, I KIND OF GATHERED THAT.
THANK YOU FOR STATING THE OBVIOUS.
BUT THAT'S NOT REALLY THE THING. IT'S LIKE EVERYONE HAS THIS NEED TO SHOW OFF THEIR SHINY NEW BEAST
DROP THEM LIKE THEIR HOT SORT OF DEAL.
IT'S GETTING KIND OF OLD AND ISN'T THERE OTHER SHIT TO BE DOING INSTEAD???

[broomwithaview]

[His reply shakes her originally, so it takes a moment before she responds.]

There's no need to be rude. I didn't mean to be a bother.

[usedshooshpap]

HOW ABOUT YOU HUMANS STOP BEING SO SENSITIVE?
THIS IS ANOTHER PROBLEM I'M HAVING WITH SUCH FREQUENCY THAT I'M ABOUT TO RIP OUT MY HAIR.
THIS? THIS IS NOT ME BEING RUDE IN THE LEAST.
I'M ACTUALLY OF A RATHER MILD TEMPERAMENT, WHICH IS AMAZING WHEN I SIT HERE AND THINK ABOUT HOW UTTERLY EMBARRASSING THIS VALENTINES HOLIDAY WAS FOR ME.

[broomwithaview]

You've got a funny way of showing a 'mild temperament', Mr. Alien.

[papshooshing]

WHAT?
WE ARE A VIOLENT, BLOOD THIRSTY RACE.
SHOULD WE BE TRYING RAINBOWS AND SHITTING BUTTERFLIES INSTEAD?

[broomwithaview]

Your language is really bad! You shouldn't say that kind of stuff!
That's no excuse to be mean.

[This can only end in tears.]

[papshooshing]

MY LANGUAGE USAGE IS NOT UNLIKE THE REST OF US, SORRY TO SAY.
I MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT MORE CREATIVE IN MY USE OF METAPHORS, BUT ULTIMATELY LANGUAGE IS A FLUID THING.
IN OTHER WORDS, NONE OF US REALLY GIVE TWO FLYING FUCKS ABOUT HOW WE COME ACROSS.
THIS IS HOW WE ARE RAISED
DEAL WITH IT, LIKE WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH YOUR CULTURAL HOOFBEAST SHIT.
I AM A TROLL AND I'M NOT ABOUT TO COMPLETELY CONFORM TO HUMAN SOCIETY.
IN MY POINT OF VIEW, YOU'RE THE ONE BEING MEAN FOR NOT HAVING SOME IOTA OF SYMPATHY FOR AN "ALIEN" BEING FORCED TO HAVE THE APPEARANCE OF A HUMAN.

[clawshot]

[Because he's nearby when he sees Kiki's reaction, he figures he'll say something]

Why not ignore it then, if it bothers you?

[usedshooshpap]

I WOULD LOVE TO, BUT HEY
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS SO EASILY IGNORED WHEN IT'S FUCKING SLATHERED ALL OVER THE NETWORK LIKE BUTTER ON A ROLL.

[clawshot]

I didn't really notice.

[If only because he still can't get the hang of this contraption]

It shouldn't go on forever. Is there something else to do?

[papshooshing]

YOU MEAN GO OUTSIDE AND FREEZE MY NUBS OFF?
HAHAHA, YEAH I TRIED THAT THE OTHER DAY.
I WAS REWARDED WITH A WAYWARD EEVEE FOR MY EFFORTS.
YEAH, I'M NOT ABOUT TO DO THAT AGAIN.

[clawshot]

Is there something wrong with Eevees?

[papshooshing]

NO?
HE JUST DECIDED THAT RUNNING OFF IN THE SNOW AND MAKING ME CHASE HIM WAS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAPPEN.
AND IT DID.
THE LITTLE SHIT WAS SO SMUG ABOUT IT LATER.

[clawshot]

Sounds like he just wanted to play with you. I doubt the trouble was intentional.

[papshooshing]

IF HE DID IT ON PURPOSE, IT WAS INTENTIONAL.
SERIOUSLY, IT'S NOT LIKE I DON'T GIVE HIM THE ATTENTION THAT HE WANTS.

[clawshot]

Animals are like that. A town full of cats wanted to play hide and seek with me once. It took a while but I doubt they meant any harm by it.

[Special experiences, he's got them]

[usedshooshpap]

A TOWN FULL OF CATS.
WHAT THE FUCK DID THEY HAVE ON YOU? CATNIP?

1/2

[clawshot]

Not exactly.

2/2

[clawshot]

[There's a pause as he decides how he wants to clarify. On the one hand, it's a bit strange. On the other, it might be a decent distraction for this guy]

At the time, I wasn't human. That's how I could talk to them.

[usedshooshpap]

AT THE TIME, YOU SAY.
SO WHAT DID THAT MAKE YOU "AT THE TIME," THEN.
IT'S NOT LIKE YOU'RE A SHAPESHIFTER OR SOME SHIT, RIGHT?

[clawshot]

No, it's an effect Twilight had on the realm.

Wherever that world overlapped with mine, I'd become a wolf. Others were like spirits.

[usedshooshpap]

OK, I GUESS THAT SORT OF MAKES SENSE.
BUT WHY WERE YOU EXEMPT FROM BECOMING A "SPIRIT."

...just realized they're probably talking, not texting /sharp

[clawshot]

What I was told was that I was different because of...one moment.

[A pause as he tugs off his gauntlet to show a golden mark on the back of his hand]

This. It means I was chosen.