video;

[threeisapattern]

[The camera turns on to boy making pretty much the same face as his icon. He's sitting on a bench in a park in Heropa, and if you're paying attention, you might notice people in the background pointing upwards and taking pictures. Without saying a word, he turns the camera so it's focusing on his hand, which is holding a dog leash that is, confusingly, pointing straight up, and then pans the image up and up until it reaches the other end of the leash: a Husky with very grumpy-looking eyebrows having the absolute time of his life, prancing around in mid-air. While the camera's pointed at him, he leaps at the top of a tree and startles the hell out of a poor squirrel.]

My dog can fly now. That's how my life is going. [This would be so much cooler if his powers weren't on the fritz and he could get his dog to stop chasing birds for like five minutes.]

Comments

Video

[hatestrashcans]

Oh man, that dog is having the time of his life right now, let me tell you.

I've both been a dog and flown, so you can trust me on that one.

[ Marco pauses ]

Actually. Where are you and how did that happen?

[ Look, he wants to be a flying dog, okay? Don't judge him. ]

[threeisapattern]

Yeah, I couldn't tell. [Don't mind the slight snark. As resident dog-whisperer and guy who can understand when a dog is clearly signalling happiness, he did not need the assurance.

But also, what.] I'm in Heropa and we ran into weird rocks and did you say you've been a dog?

[hatestrashcans]

[ Marco doesn't know anything about Stiles, but his own default is snark so he doesn't think anything of it. ]

Yeah. I change into animals. Including dogs. And I want to fly as a dog. Flying as a bird is cool, and flying as a fly is sweeter than you'd think, but dogs have fun. Ospreys don't have fun; their brains don't realize how cool flying is.

[threeisapattern]

[Okay. Okay. So this guy turns into actual animals, including dogs. This is fine. It's cool.] And you... think my dog can teach you how to fly as a dog?

[hatestrashcans]

I think if I turn up, change into a dog, and take a hit of whatever flying rock it is, I should get to fly.

If not, I want my money back.

[threeisapattern]

[Honestly, he. He kind of wants to see this now? Like, for research purposes, or whatever.] Luckily, public parks are free.

[hatestrashcans]

Sweet, drop me an address or name.

I've only been here two days, I don't have backgrounds memorized yet.

[ Might as well have some fun during this shitty situation. It'll hold off the inevitable breakdown. ]

[threeisapattern]

Welcome to the club. It's an eclectic bunch, but none of had a choice in joining it, so.

[Anyway, he's getting an address over text.]

[hatestrashcans]

Typical. Once in a while an invitation would be nice, you know? 'Hey Marco, do you want to go on crazy reality jumping adventures? Or would you rather stay home and drive your Ferrari?'

We get no respect.

Heading over.

[threeisapattern]

You have a Ferrari?

[Yes, that's what Stiles focused on. How rich is this kid?]

[hatestrashcans]

Saving the world has some benefits, even if it makes you look like an asshole when you show up in weirdo-Murica in a custom made suit with a wallet full of cash.

On the other hand, no screaming when I walk down the street here, so that's cool. Missed that.

[threeisapattern]

So like - you got paid to save the world? [Was there a saving-the-world bounty for this guy? How does this work?]

[hatestrashcans]

Not directly, but you get book deals, interviews, speaking fees, television appearances... all your standard spotlight crap.

And my mom has a ton of galactic political intel and my dad was one of the human inventors of FTL communication. Money's not really an issue back home.

Which is great, don't get me wrong. Beats checking the expiration date on everything at the 7/11 and counting pennies for milk. Just also means people pay attention to us.

[threeisapattern]

So at least you're already used to the attention you get here.

[hatestrashcans]

I do, it's great! I'm practically anonymous here compared to at home!

[ Sure, he could always go out in a different body, but again, keeping that to himself. People are cool with the animal thing. People... not as much. ]

[threeisapattern]

Yeah, I guess it would be. [Stiles, meanwhile? You'd think having a social media account dedicated to sightings of you and your dog(s) talking about how cute you are would be awesome, but it's still mildly unsettling to him.]

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[am_i_a_monster]

[Abigail's sitting on a couch with her dogs.]

Awww. He looks like he's having fun. He's safe while he's on the leash, right?

[threeisapattern]

Yeah, probably. [Stiles glances up at his dog who is, yeah, definitely having the time of his life. He's pretty sure there's not like a ton of trouble Derek could get into as long as he stays on the leash, and anyway Stiles isn't sure how much he could do to prevent this right now. ]

[am_i_a_monster]

Your life is going good then.   Happy dogs make life better.

[Abigail pets her dogs.] 

Isn't that right, my good boys? Such good boys.

[They bark.] 

See?   Tommy and Fumio agree.

[threeisapattern]

[Man, it's. It's pretty weird that he can't understand the dogs right now? Normally he'd have a running commentary of YES GOOD YES PETS.]

...Tommy and Fumio?

[am_i_a_monster]

Yes, this Tommy.

[She gestures to the Springer Spaniel]

And this is Fumio.

[She gives the grey pitbull a gentle scratch behind the ears.]

Say hi, boys.

[The dogs bark again and Fumio raises his paw, as if to shake hands.]

[threeisapattern]

Hey, guys. [Super weird now to be talking to the dogs like a normal person talks to dogs.

Also, it's possible he half-lifts a hand like he's waving back.] Why 'Fumio'?

[am_i_a_monster]

[The dog's wag their tails happily at the attention.]

I don't know.  D33 named him before he disappeared.  I think maybe it's a Japanese name.

[threeisapattern]

Huh.

[Hang on a sec, he's just gonna look this up on Wikipedia a website that is totally not Wikipedia.]

Japanese masculine given name. Different meanings depending on the kanji used. Cool, that told me almost nothing.

[am_i_a_monster]

It might have been the name of someone D33 knew back home.  

[She reached over and petted Fumio gently.]

I think it means really good boy.

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[livethecreed]

[ Altair quirks a brow at the video and can't help replying ]

This world is a constant source of new experiences. I should not be surprised by flying dogs, and yet I am.

[threeisapattern]

We could put that on a t-shirt. [Derek tugs a bit on his end of the leash, and Stiles just gets a tighter grip because yeah, he is not losing his dog to the skies.]

[livethecreed]

[ Altair gives a small 'hmm' to show he heard, but keeps focused on the flying dog ]

How long has he been floating? And how can he move? [ There's no ground to walk on, just air... ]

[threeisapattern]

I don't know. He's already breaking the laws of physics by flying, I don't think propulsion is the biggest question right now.

[livethecreed]

If you understood how he's able to move you may be able to stop his attempts to eat the local wildlife.

[threeisapattern]

I don't think anything's going to stop that at this point, but as long as he doesn't catch anything, I think he's gonna be okay.

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[stlg13bomber]

Your dog is gorgeous! Can I come see it? [MUST PET ALL THE DOGS. Is it weird for a dog to fly? HE HAS NO IDEA. His friend Archie had a dog that could breathe fire.]

[threeisapattern]

If it’s cool with him, sure. [not stated but heavily implied: if you can get him down from there lo enough to pet.]

[stlg13bomber]

How do I, uh, get to him?

[threeisapattern]

Can you fly?

[eloquentness]

Hang in there. [ Iris's smile is sympathetic, if a little sad - ] If I'm remembering it right, your dog's flight is one of your new powers too.

Maybe it's tied to your emotions, or how close you are to the guy?

[threeisapattern]

[What?]

Uh, seeing as how my powers are currently non-functional and he's turned into Peter Pan But Canine and also I've never exhibited levitation powers, I'd say it's probably not that.

[eloquentness]

Ah, sorry. [ she winces, ] That's on me for that kind of assumption.

It was just - there was a guy here before you. His superpower was... uh, I think its official name was giving his dog superpowers? So whenever he was near his dog, his dog could fly and use super-speed and super-strength. I was wondering if your dog was dealing with the same thing.

[threeisapattern]

Nah. My power's usually a dog thing, though? I talk to dogs and we understand each other. Most of the time. [Not... right now, though.]

[eloquentness]

Hm. The paper’s been getting calls and emails about some people in De Chima getting powers too, but they’ve never lasted for long.

[ she pauses, as if looking for something – ]

Wait, what do you mean “‘most of the time?”

[threeisapattern]

We came across a couple rocks on a walk. He started flying and my powers stopped working. I think they're both temporary. [Otherwise, he would be way more freaked out.]

[eloquentness]

They probably are, all things considered... [ beat ] I'm looking over some reports right now, but what color were those rocks?

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[bodilesswarrior]

[Barbara's priorities are very different when she's got red kryptonite in her pocket.] Okay, that dog needs a cape.

[threeisapattern]

Too bad I don't have any on hand.

[OH WELL]

He'd need a hero name first anyway.

[bodilesswarrior]

Fortunately, you know someone who can sew.

You're right, though, he needs a name and a symbol first.

[threeisapattern]

Would 'Underdog' just be stealing?

[bodilesswarrior]

We can call it an homage.