video;

[sketchycharacter]

[Not that he's always Mr. Cheerful regardless of circumstances, but Nate's expression looks a little sad, a little wistful, on the TAB today.]

I know the Ingresses space kidnapped a bunch of new people recently—condolences, by the way—but for those who knew Isha Devan, she...won't be joining us the rest of our journey. To wherever the hell we're going.

[He knows where they're going in theory, but the trip has ground to a halt with what they've found at the midway hub. Nate's not taking part in the diplomatic talks with the Savrii, because seriously who would ever want that.]

But! I guess she had a secret project she didn't tell me about, because she left me this behind as a parting gift.

[The video on the TAB pivots to show a mechanical robot dog that looks very much the style of Q, Isha's dog, but instead of a greyhound, this one is modeled after a German Shepard.]

Things aren't the best right now, I know. Better than right after the crash but still not great. So for anyone who wants to distract themselves with something silly and mostly pointless, I've got a project for you: help me name my dog.

Comments

video;

[otiosity]

I'd say "not even a good-bye" but that doesn't seem quite her style.

video;

[sketchycharacter]

Nah. She'd rather sweep off mysteriously in the night, leave us wanting more.

[Of course, that assumes any of them have control over their presence here, and they both know that's not true.]</small?

video

[poolhall_killer]

Is that an electric dog...?

video

[sketchycharacter]

Robot dog. She built and programmed it.

[buyeverything]

So a pal of yours just. Built you a robot dog.

[He's not jealous, but also what the hell how.]

[sketchycharacter]

I don't know about just. [It was probably difficult. Or maybe not, but it seems like it should have been.] But yeah, yeah she did.

video;

[desynched]

Sorry 'bout your friend.

[ She offers him a sympathetic smile. Lena knows a thing or two about being separated from people you care about. But at least they'd all been together in the same world. ]

[ But she brightens up. He doesn't need another sad face full of pity but someone to bring a little cheer. And she's pretty good at that. ]

I'd go with Sparky but, I dunno, doesn't really look like a Sparky, does he? Or she.

video;

[sketchycharacter]

[He gives her a nod, acknowledging the sympathy but not wanting to go into it. That's not his thing.]

I think if it starts sparking, something's wrong. And...I dunno, I never thought about robot dog gender before.

[warandpeace]

Nice dog.

[He's not had the best experience with AI, but also not the worst either. Peace Walker taught him a lesson in that.]

Mekken. Mek for mechanical, ken for dog.

Does it have any useful functions? [Besides being a slick looking dog.]

[sketchycharacter]

Catchy. I'll put it on the short list.

It can do pretty much whatever a regular dog can do, but sturdier. And it doesn't eat or poop.

[ryuuzaki]

What does it do besides dog things? Did she leave instructions?

[He sounds coolly interested.]

[sketchycharacter]

She did, but it's still mostly dog things. Just really durable dog things.

text;

[flynnitomite]

well pets are supposed to take after their owners, yeah?

so Shitface should do the trick

text;

[sketchycharacter]

[This is about what he expected from Harry. No offense is taken.]

sure but it doesn't roll off the tongue
plus i don't want it to think i'm mad when i'm just calling it for robot dinner

video

[nicearsenal]

Well seeing as it's you and your dog, I'm going with Frank.

[As in Sir Francis. Ooh, no wait! Better idea!]

Or Wrecks. That's probably more suitable.

video

[sketchycharacter]

[Since this isn't text, he hears that as "Rex."]

Sounds like something an oil tycoon would name his pet. Or a fan of dinosaurs.

video;

[greyate]

[ Jean can't really help opening with; ]

I'm sorry about your friend leaving.

[ She knows she would be in a pretty bad state if she lost any of her friends. But he wants to focus on naming his dog -- at least, she thinks it's a dog. He says it is yet it looks like a robot... ]

Max? Hank?

[ Because sleek and mechanical was kinda his thing. ]

video;

[sketchycharacter]

[He nods, acknowledging the sympathy but not getting into his Feelings.]

Those names aren't bad. I'm definitely thinking it should have a real name and not, say, a description. I'd have to go with Unfluffy if that were the case.

video;

[efficacy]

Whatever you do, don't let Tony name him.

[ She's not saying he's kind of terrible at naming things, but that's exactly what she's saying. ]

video;

[sketchycharacter]

Sounds like you speak from experience.

[Tell hiiiiiiiim.]

audio;

[prorenataa]

I'm sorry your friend left. [ Adrien offered, for what little good it would do.

No dog name suggestions. He blew about the only good name he had on Courser. ]

audio;

[sketchycharacter]

Yeah. It stinks.

[He's not sure what else to say. It's the nature of being here, and for Isha, there's every chance that it doesn't stink. She's back where she belongs.

But being left behind stinks. No, it fucking sucks.]

Maybe Courser and this guy can have play dates.

Video

[farmboyjedi]

[Luke watches, but he finds this sort of thing harder than back home. He's very curious about the dog-droid, though.]

Does he have a designation of some kind? That's often what happens back home. One of my...well, we call them droids...is Artoo, for R2-D2 and the other is Threepio, for C-3PO. I guess it isn't very original, though. It's just something that's common.

Video

[sketchycharacter]

[Oh hey, it's Luke, but...older. Nate's aware from keeping an eye on the network that the guy came back to the crew, but he wasn't sure what to say since he didn't bring his memories with him.]

Actually, yeah. She designated it ND-81, but that's a little unwieldy.

audio

[foins]

[...a mechanical dog?]

What does it eat?

[This is apparently the most important question to her, though actually she wonders more if it is a weapon. But that seems an impolite thing to ask.]

audio

[sketchycharacter]

I don't think it eats anything. It just...goes.

text;

[cockade]

[He'd speak in audio, but his heart is tugged in all the wrong places, and he's not too sure he'd have the right words to actually speak if he did.

Isha was a friend. No, she was more than that- she was a companion and someone who understood his frustrations. Understood, perhaps, better than anyone else why he wanted to return home, or to the Drabwurld. She knew and constantly corrected him on his positivism, believing only what she'd gone through herself; and he in turn would joke with her and always tell her she needed to relax and be more cheery.

He just didn't ever imagine she'd be gone like the rest of them.

Arno is tired. Tired of things falling apart, tired of losing people, just tired in general.]

You know, I'd almost expect her to hit someone if we mentioned missing her. Even if it wasn't said in front of her. [Because honestly, Isha's like that.] A shame, though. I'm going to miss her.

text;

[sketchycharacter]

i agree. throw in a pithy remark. and same here.

[There's no reading tone over text, but Nate knows a little of Arno now, and he wonders if there's more behind his words.]

i didn't know you were friends

[oldforthis]

hell of a parting gift

male or female?

[sketchycharacter]

the robot dog does not have robot genitals so i think it's up to me to decide

voice;

[worn_wings]

This one hunt, too?

voice;

[sketchycharacter]

Haven't tried it yet, but probably. It's the same sort of robot dog, just a different breed.

[somakemelaugh]

[By now, he has had some help with how to use this peculiar thing and he's getting the hang of it. So here, enjoy.]

Name it... Shiny.

[sketchycharacter]

Why Shiny? It's more of a matte coat.

video; - fashionably late always!

[liberaltus]

As long as it's something I can do while drinking a glass of wine [because how often does one come across a distraction that enables him to drink while he's doing it] you can always call him Archdemon, make him sound vicious...or Drake perhaps and not just because it's your last name.

the important part is that he's fashionable

[sketchycharacter]

Okay, one: he's too cute for a name like Archdemon, and two: I can't call him Drake. That would make his full name Drake Drake.