video.

[rexabcrystallo]

[ The camera comes on to a man kneeling next to a dog in a park, holding the communicator at a selfie angle. The man looks Japanese, with chin length black hair and a thin beard, wearing casual, cheap clothes. The dog looks like a shiba inu, with grey markings breaking up the black fur on his face, like a malamute. He'swearing a green neckerchief and by all appearances is a very good boy.

So how has anyone dared to imply otherwise? ]

I've only been here for a few days, so I'm still getting used to how things are here. It's little things, for the most part. Maybe I was just never responsible for a dog before, or that some dogs just don't seem like the type to need someone to be responsible for them. [ But mostly because it was someone else's responsibility, probably. His fiancee's, most likely. ]

Did you know that dogs aren't supposed to be out in the city without a leash? I don't know if that's just De Chima or all of this...America. [ That's the name, right? He gives the dog a good rub behind the ears. ] But it's a little counter-intuitive to tie down a messenger like that. Umbra here's a free roamer, he goes where he needs to, through whatever blockade is in his path. A leash couldn't stop him even if I wanted it to.

[ He smiles and rises to his feet, while Umbra perks up at suddenly being left out of the shot. ] I should introduce myself. I'm Noctis, and--

[ Umbra lets out a few barks from offscreen, which gives Noctis a startle. He looks down at the dog in surprise. ] What the hell?

[ The camera swings off him as his hand drops, then goes black. ]

Comments

[vanto]

I think we need to get a leash.

[rexabcrystallo]

[ Still looking a little shaken: ] He doesn't want one.

[vanto]

You alright there?


It is for his safety too.

text; because of course its text

[unconchonable]

wwhy the fuck wwould you need a leash for that thing
its hardly evven big enough to notice let alone need to be controlled like that
are humans really THAT fragile and cowwardly of a species they fear such pathetic barkbeasts

text;

[rexabcrystallo]

What

text;

[unconchonable]

oh right i forgot your species is also extremely dense
small beast
wwhy humans scared
understand

[Yeah, he can't cool his shitty attitude for even a minute.]

video

[burlyboy]

Hey, is your dog okay? What happened?

video

[rexabcrystallo]

Yeah, he's fine. He's just...talking to me.

[ Which isn't really weird, but understanding him is. ]

video

[burlyboy]

You got the power of talking to dogs?

[ He's jealous. He's so jealous. Why does everyone else get all the cool powers? ]

What's he saying?

video;

[bentspooner]

Are...you alright?

[ She knows the animals in this world aren't as advanced as Pokemon, but mandatory leashes? Sounds fake to Sabrina. ]

As long as he's smart enough not to go running off, I don't see why you'd need one.

video;

[rexabcrystallo]

I'm fine. Just hearing things, probably. [ Just dogs sharing their thoughts and feelings. Things. ]

But like I said, he's a messenger. Running off is pretty much his job.

[bentspooner]

Then he's been trained to know his way. I wouldn't worry.

[ You poor thing. She's a psychic who trains psychic pokemon, so as far as she's concerned, that's the norm. ]

Does he have any other abilities? Or is he like the dogs from this world?

video;

[consulinchief]

Leash laws are not only for the protection of your dog, but the protection of other people and their dogs as well. You might know Umbra is well-behaved, but someone he might approach might not.

video;

[rexabcrystallo]

But behavior is pretty visible. It's not hard to see when a dog is approaching you threateningly or not.

Besides, I'm not sure he's even really a dog.

[consulinchief]

To you, perhaps. To someone who fears dogs, all behavior might be seen as aggression. It's courteous to think of others.

[He arches an eyebrow.]

What makes you say that?

video;

[looseleaves]

[ This teenager tilts his head to the side, a tan hat tucking hair away as he blinks, startled at the sudden movement of the camera. With a soft voice, Hajime is the picture of concern. ]

Are you alright...? Did, um, Umbra have a problem? He doesn't bite, does he?

video;

[rexabcrystallo]

No, no. He didn't do anything wrong. He just...took me by surprise.

[ By talking. Or, at least, what Noctis heard as talking. ]

video;

[looseleaves]

Ah, that's a relief... he sounded a bit distressed.

[ Or at least, that's what Hajime can guess. Not that he can speak dog. ]

Most parks have leash laws, so... it can't be helped, even if he wants to be free. I haven't volunteered at De Chima's park though, so I can't know for sure. Sorry, Mr. Noctis. Oh, but welcome!

audio

[devoutish]

You're an imPort, mate. The rules are bent to accomodate us all the fucking time; it's why we've got protests in the street. Tell 'em he's a magic talking dog who ferries messages and law will leave you alone.

audio

[rexabcrystallo]

[ I mean, most of that is actually true of Umbra, but... ]

If he could talk, wouldn't he be able to tell them himself?

[ Jokes aside, Alfie raises a good point that's worth thinking more about. ] I heard about the protests, but I'm afraid they happened before I came here. Can you tell me a little more about them?

audio

[devoutish]

It's what it sounds like. You've heard the arguments the natives have against us?

Video

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Jacob is smiling in the video, though more at Umbra than Noctis.]

Welcome to De Chima, Noctis. You too, Umbra. Are you two okay?

[Since he just yelled out and the screen dramatically cut to black.]

Video

[rexabcrystallo]

You didn't hear that? It must be me. Maybe I'm imagining things.

[ If no one else heard the dog talk, maybe he didn't either? ]

video

[girlybruiser]

[ The video on this end comes from a slightly lower angle; the device is propped somewhere and a girl of eighteen appears on the screen. She has a bit of dirt on her face and her background is very clearly a backyard. Probably her own. ]

What an adorable dog! He's so majestic looking...

[ Where are her manners? ]

My apologies. Welcome to America, Noctis! My name is Haru.

video

[rexabcrystallo]

Thanks, Haru. It's my first time here. [ He says it with a little chuckle. He's pretty sure there's no America on Eos, but it's not a great joke. ]

But yeah, he's been a good friend to me since I was a kid. I guess there's something majestic about that.

[ "Majestic" is kind of a weird word when you're royalty. ]