005 // @strange.magic: video

[suckstobestrange]

[Hello Riverview! The feed blinks on to show Stephen, who might be looking somewhat under the weather here, paler than normal, the dark circles under his eyes a bit deeper. But that's not what he's here about, so like fuck he's acknowledging that!]

So is there anyone around who's a bit more up on Pokemon than I am? I was told they evolved as a method of growth, but I was unaware it was such a... sudden thing. One minute Wong was normal size, the next he's, well-

[The camera is turned, showing Wong, who is no longer the Lillipup that folk might remember but a Herdier. He's also three times his previous size, as seen by the fact that sitting up he was barely fitting on the small pillow-style dog bed just visible.]

Also, anyone who knows how to get him to stop doing this would be appreciated. [The camera pans lower to show that the dog bed was in fact upside down, having been pushed off the nearby sofa onto Sirius. The black lab hasn't moved even with bed and other dog on him, a long-suffering look sent Stephens way, as well as a slow thump of his tail.

He'd move but he's had enough of Wong's bamboozling for one day, thanks.]

Comments

[wingedman]

Uh-huh. Definitely has nothing to do with someone spoiling him.

[Like Sam has any room to talk in the spoiling department with the number of dog biscuits he's given Wong, but shhh.]

[suckstobestrange]

Dogs are meant to be spoiled, it's a fact of life.

[Both dogs, Stephen doesn't discriminate in his spoiling, Wong and Sirius both get biscuits.]

[wingedman]

Look, I'm just saying, he wouldn't have so much trouble if he wasn't so used to being a spoiled only dog. It's like suddenly having another kid, you know?

[Theoretically. Since neither of them have kids. Okay Stephen probably has kids in some bizarro corner of canon somewhere, and Ults doesn't count.]

[suckstobestrange]

I was a sibling, I remember the phase when I wanted my brother and sister to go away. It passed. Wong'll settle down once he gets it through that stubborn head of his that he's not being replaced here.

[wingedman]

Guess I don't exactly have any experience to back it up, huh?

[Not unlike Wong, Sam's just sort of herding Stephen onto the couch, and when he sits down, he tugs the other man with him.]

Anyway, you're the one who asked the network for help with your dog's behavior, not me.

[suckstobestrange]

[Fine fine, he'll sit with you Wilson. Not because he's dizzy, but just because he likes spending time with you, he's totally fine here.]

As well as I pretended back home, I'm not a vet. Figured better to get some second opinions.

[As Wong hops up to try and wedge his way firmly between the two of them.]

[wingedman]

...when did you ever pretend to be a vet back home, and did it involve dragons?

[Sigh. Yes, okay, you can sit here, Wong. Sam scoots over obligingly - for the moment, anyway.]

[suckstobestrange]

When Loki was Sorcerer Supreme. Didn't involve any dragons but I did have a basset hound I'd enchanted to talk. I was pretty good, mostly because I could Dr. Doolittle things and find out what was actually wrong with the animals.

The people weren't as thrilled with this.

[wingedman]

Yeah, I can imagine dumbass vegans wouldn't wanna be told that their dog doesn't want shitty vegan food, for example.

[A pause, and then:] So why aren't you just talking to Wong?

[suckstobestrange]

Yeah they were the most obnoxious ones about everything. Cats are obligate carnivores either nut up and feed em right or don't have em at all.

[Did you see that pained expression Sam, because it was there. Don't mind him reflexively rubbing Wong's ears as a result, comforting himself that the dog was there safe and sound.]

It was only Bats I was talking to. The hound and... things didn't.

Turn out so well for him.

[wingedman]

[Okay, Sam's going to heft Wong up and just put him on their laps so he can scoot up next to Stephen. Deal with it, pupper.]

Sounds kinda like your life.

[...said gently and with an arm looped around him, but it's true, okay?]

[suckstobestrange]

Yeah.

[Excuse you Sam, Wong is gonna squirm a bit-

Until he picks up on Stephen's mood and chills the fuck out by flopping across both of their laps. Not even making a move when Sirius puts his nose on the sorcerer's knee either.]

He was a good dog. Didn't deserve to go like that.

[wingedman]

[Sam leans his head against Stephen's to comfort him.]

What happened?

[suckstobestrange]

Loki and I were arguing. Stupid bullshit where neither one was really listening to the other. The usual. He popped a force field around Bats to keep him from getting involved, which just got Bats worked up.

Wasn't listening when I told him the dog had a bad heart, and well... [A faint grimace.] All that excitement wasn't good for him.

[wingedman]

Shit.

[Sam falls silent for a moment and holds Stephen a little more tightly. He's never had a pet die before - never had a pet till he came here - but that doesn't mean he doesn't understand how it feels.]

I'm sorry, Stephen.

[suckstobestrange]

[Stephen just huffed a low sigh at that point, hunkering into Sam's grasp a bit, one hand settling on Wong's head, the other settling on what of Sirius's muzzle was in reach, earning tail-thumping from both parties.]

It's... he's off in whatever passes for doggy heaven for Bats. So there's that at least. Arthritis can't bug him anymore.

[wingedman]

[There's a kiss brushed against his temple, although Sam worries a little about how feverish the skin under his lips feels.]

And he had a good time with you, I'm sure. You made his life better and he made your life better.

[suckstobestrange]

I don't know how much better I made his life but he sure did like the park. Especially when he got to cuss out the tourists.

[Sam no, he's not feverish at all, he's totally fine. Not feverish, and he's certainly not shaky. Nope. He's all good. Everything's great.]

[wingedman]

I might not be a dog guy, but from what I know, when dogs get attached to you, you're their entire world. And it sounds like that's the case here.

[And yes, Stephen, Sam gets that you're blaming yourself for his death.]

Man, I'd pay to hear a dog cuss out tourists in the middle of Central Park.

[suckstobestrange]

[How can he not? It was his stupid feud with Loki that led up to it.]

If I didn't know any better I'd swear he was the reincarnation of a cabbie, he sure as hell had the vocabulary for it.

[wingedman]

[WELL LOOK okay yeah that's a pretty good argument unlike 99% of everything else Stephen thinks is his fault

(which would be everything)]

You light a lantern for him at the beginning of the month?

[suckstobestrange]

Yeah.

[Look. Everything clearly is his fault okay?]

Tied a biscuit to it and everything.

[wingedman]

Good. I'm sure he's thinking of you, wherever he is.

[Sam's definitely learned by now that trying to tell Stephen that things aren't his fault doesn't work.]

Never knew before that you were such a fan of dogs. Apart from the whole turning yourself into one bit, anyway.

[suckstobestrange]

Nah, he's probably enjoying his belly rubs from Miss November. Definitely earned them.

[He's too stubborn to listen to sense, okay?]

Never thought about it before, not really. But between Bats and these two dingbats, I can see what the fuss is about.

[wingedman]

Just don't turn into the dog equivalent of a crazy cat lady. God, can you imagine how many dogs would fit in this place?

[Too many, even for Sam to deal with.]

They're good dogs, though.

[He reaches over to scratch behind Wong's ears, then tries to reach Sirius.]