[video] Merriment 2

[hotheadwarmheart]

 [Lea appears on the network, smiling a bit.]

OK, since Xion got me a surprise gift yesterday, I think I should make a little PSA.

[He holds up a gray rat with a few small white spots so the camera and thus those watching can see it.]

This is Smoke, the familiar I was given in the last world I was in. And aside from anything magical, that means that he's basically my pet.

So all you science types on board? That means this little guy is off limits as a potential experiment. And for all the cats and other creatures on board who might normally eat rats? That means he's also not a potential meal. Got it memorized?

Everyone else shouldn't have anything to worry about with him though; he's pretty well behaved, as rats go. And I'll try to make sure he stays out from underfoot, metaphorically and literally. Just... don't freak out if you see him peeking out of my pocket now and then, OK?

Comments

[video]

[consider8]

[So she pressed the ICP button to say something about the rat friend.]

[...]

[But she forgot what she was about to say. Smoke is too cute. She just wants to stare at him.]

Re: [video]

[hotheadwarmheart]

[Smoke twitches his whiskers, seeming to sniff at the camera a little.

Guessing at the reason for her silence, Lea smiles.]

He's cute, isn't he?

[consider8]

[The question causes her to smile. A finger raises to the camera lens as though she wanted to reach out and touch him.]

But what is he?

[She thinks she heard him mention in that announcement, but uh... yeah, no, she was only half paying attention.]

[hotheadwarmheart]

He's a rat; a little furry rodent. Wild ones can be pests sometimes, but pet ones are different. I think they're called 'fancy rats'? I'm not really sure what's 'fancy' about them though.

[blitzcheer]

Cute guy! Soo, you're saying he can't puff himself into a pile of smoke?

[ A joke, a joke! ]

[hotheadwarmheart]

[Lea chuckles.]

Nah. And good thing too, otherwise I'd never be able to keep him in his cage.

[blitzcheer]

Haha! Hey, he might be a good pal for Taiki's lil' friend. He's a kind of rodent. You seen him?

[hotheadwarmheart]

I can't remember seeing him off the top of my head, no. I'll have to be sure and introduce them.

video;

[paopuofyourlife]

He is adorable~

[Yes, she thinks he is. But she smiles, she gotta say something else...]

So does he take after you? I mean they do say pets take after their owners after all.

Re: video;

[hotheadwarmheart]

Ya know, I'm not sure? It's a little hard to tell with a rat a lot of the time. Though thankfully he doesn't get into nearly as much trouble as me.

video;

[paopuofyourlife]

So he isn't into getting into mischief, so far not like you at all.

Maybe that is a good thing.

[And yes she is teasing.]

Re: video;

[hotheadwarmheart]

[Lea chuckles.]

Yeah. Least if I cause trouble, no one's likely to set traps for me. Can't say the same for a rat.

audio;

[theturksway]

Isn't that a little obvious? The only animals on board this dumb thing are people's pets, yo.

Re: audio;

[hotheadwarmheart]

Well yeah, but I know how some people see rats, and given that we've got a lab now, I didn't want anybody to get any ideas, you know? Plus there's still the cats and things; even the talking ones might chomp first and ask questions later.

[theturksway]

Giving me ideas just showin' the little guy. [He's teasing. Right?] Aaand I don't think most of the cats are gonna know the difference. Only the ones that talk and understand. If they care to be nice.

[But if he were a cat, man, it'd be fair game still. He's the worst.]

[hotheadwarmheart]

Yeah, yeah... whatever.

[You better be teasing, Reno.]

And I dunno; I've met at least one talking cat on board. Though fish seemed to be more his thing. But if the cats don't do it themselves, at least their owners can keep an eye out and make sure they don't try anything.

[agoodsoul]

Cute little bugger. If I happen to see him around I'll be sure to return em.

He like treats or anything?

[hotheadwarmheart]

Definitely. There're some kinds of food that're bad for rats though, so ask me first before you give him any treats OK?

[agoodsoul]

Yeah sure, course. Don't wanna make your little mate sick.

Anything we got on the train he's approved for snacking on?

Video

[secretmakesawoman]

An... interesting choice of roommates.

[Is she judging? Disinterested? It can be hard to tell with Sharon, especially since she's still smiling.]

Well, thanks for the heads up. I suppose I'll be seeing Smoke quite often.

Re: Video

[hotheadwarmheart]

Honestly, I didn't pick him, at least initially; everyone just kinda got assigned a familiar in the place I was in before here. But I've gotten pretty fond of the little guy.

[In spite of his efforts not to.]

And yeah, you probably will. His cage isn't that big, so hopefully it won't make things too cramped, but if it does, I'll try and figure something out.

Re: Video

[secretmakesawoman]

Hm. So I take it he's not going to be just a regular pet?

[Vermouth can be doubtful, but she's seen enough Pokemon creatures by now to at least acknowledge some of the pets here are... unusual.]

I'm sure you'll take care of it. Should I expect squeaking through the night?

[labcatte]

Oh, he's adorable.

[They pause for a moment, if remembering what they look like.] And don't worry, I'm not going to eat him. Promise.

[hotheadwarmheart]

[Lea chuckles.]

Good to know. And thanks, he really is. I was kinda disappointed with getting a rat at first, but the little guy grew on me. And he was persistent.

[labcatte]

Rats make great pets, actually. When I was a kid I had a pair of them, Justin and Nicodemus. They were great. They do need a lot of socialization and playtime, though.