thisavrou | video;

[ Hello, crew of the Moira. If you look at your MID devices, you'll be seeing one baby-faced space marine covered in kittens. Well, not covered, but he's got three climbing all over him while he's piled under a blanket. There's a ginger one, a fluffy grey tabby, and a chocolate brown-almost-black one, all of which seem to be enjoying their new climbing post. Wash, meanwhile, has a wide grin on his face. It's been too long since he's been around cats, okay? And he loves the little buggers. ]

I'm guessing I'm not the only one who's noticed the kittens in the garden? And if I am, well, there're kittens in the garden. And they're pretty adorable. I'm not entirely sure where they came from, but if anyone else wants some, I'd recommend getting down there and adopting one or two. They could use some warm love in these temperatures.

[ To emphasize, he shivers a little, though his expression doesn't shift a bit. He's quite literally thrilled by this turn of events. Kittens, guys. KITTENS. ]

I stayed and played with as many as I could for a while to keep them active, but there's only so much I could do, you know? So I grabbed these guys [ he gestures with his shoulders to the kittens climbing in and out of the blanket hanging over him ] and brought them back to my room. Figured I'd give them a home.

And now for the other reason for this broadcast--I could use some name suggestions. [ He doesn't even look sheepish. He legitimately wants help with cat names and either doesn't care or doesn't realize how ridiculous that sounds. ] So, if you have any, maybe leave them for me?

Oh! And I'm Wash, by the way. Agent Washington, technically, but everyone just calls me Wash.

[ And there the feed ends, with Wash still grinning his stupid "CATS" grin and a kitten batting at his chest. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well yeah, the tree had a lot of um. Blooms?

( that's the best way to put it.... )

And who knows how many kittens each bloom produced...

[ Wash shakes his head, but he laughs a little as he does it. ]

I can't believe we're talking about an actual kitten tree and being completely serious about it.

It better be just one, or the Cetagandans are sicker than I thought.

( he has a personal investment in this. sort of. kind of. )

It's from my universe. ( he says with a shrug, and then feels like he has to defend himself/his planet a little. ) Not my planet, though. That sort of thing is liable to make even the most forward thinking Barrayaran jumpy.

[ ... ]

I'll be honest, I didn't understand half of that.

( he keeps forgetting he has to do this. ivan sighs, runs a hand through his hair, and tries again. )

I'm from Barrayar. It's a planet, part of an tri-planet empire. The tree with the kittens is from Cetaganda -- an eight planet empire. It was created for an art show, well, a bigger version of it was. Because the Cetagandans like tinkering with genetics. ( understatement! ) Barrayarans don't. ( also an understatement, unless it's your typical gene cleans before cooking up a baby in a replicator. )

Better?

Edited 2015-12-13 22:38 (UTC)

[ ... ]

I think so.

So, it's from your universe, but not your planet, and because it's basically someone toying with genetics, you don't like it?

[ That's what he's getting from all this, anyway. ]

No, I don't like it because I found out what happens when they aren't ripe.

( he shudders at the memory. yeah, not an experience he wants to repeat. )

Oh.

[ ......... ]

What happens when they aren't ripe?

[ The question comes out in almost a whisper, as he's nervous to hear the answer. ]

( he just gives him a blank, slightly upset but mostly horrified look. what do you think happens if you try and pick them when they're not ripe, wash?

in ivan's defense he didn't know, and he was trying to help! )

[ Wash just stares. But the longer he stares, the more afraid he gets. Almost like the less he wants the answer. Except now he really wants an answer.]

What happens?

[ His voice is actually a whisper this time, half-encouraging Ivan to keep him from knowing the apparent horror. ]

They die, alright?

( it bled all over him, too. all he wanted to do was free it. )

...I guess that makes sense.

[ Wash still has an uncomfortable look on his face, but he's not quite as shaken as he'd expected to be. ]

I mean... Anything dies if you pull it off a plant too early...

It was attached, it didn't even have hind legs--

( well maybe that's because you weren't the one holding it. ivan doesn't know, he doesn't want to repeat the experience anyway. )

Oh--

[ Okay, horrified look is back. And maybe it looks like he might be sick, too. ]

Oh. Okay, that-- That's worse. That's definitely worse.

Thought so.

( ivan can sympathize, but he's not going to because someone made him relive the experience. )

...Sorry.

[ He feels bad now, shrinking down a little on his end. ]

I, uhm. Shouldn't have pushed you to tell me. I think we both would have been happier without that.

( he shrugs, not the type to hold grudges with people who don't try and get him killed. )

Well now you know. ( oh wait right ) Ivan Vorpatril. Lieutenant Lord Ivan Vorpatril -- but ranks from home don't seem to mean much here.

Oh--

[ They're introducing themselves now? That's something he can do without upsetting anyone, at least. ]

Yeah, ranks don't seem to really matter here, but... Agent Washington. It's nice to meet you.

You too, Washington. Keep the cats, and uh. Take care of them.

( he's not good at names though, he doesn't have any suggestions. )

I will, don't worry.

[ He smiles a little, reassuringly. If there's one thing he can do, it's take care of cats. ]

Thanks.