un: mystearious

[mystearious]

[ On camera, Tear can be seen sitting against her bed with the lens from a distance, as if she's asking a question. She's not sure about the etiquette of face-to-face communication, so she looks... too serious. Laughably too serious to be coming on here and sitting with you like she's about to divorce you or is in a face to face interview. ]

Hello. My name is Tear Grants. If anyone should recognize it-- contact me.

[ It almost sounds like she's going to beat the hell out of whoever does. ]

I'm new here. I was in the hospital for a little while and I've been cured of-- an illness. Anyway, I've been assigned to Search and Rescue. I'm... in a communal dorm it seems.

I'm aware of the responsibility of one to take care of their own information-gathering, however--

[ Immediately she sits up when she hears a bark outside the window. Rushing over to the side, past her roommate's empty bed, she opens the curtains and sees a dog from the festival walking down the road in an adorable costume. ]

Oh my gosh....

[ She's forgotten the camera doesn't turn off by itself when you leave it alone, it seems. ]

Comments

[mystearious]

Ah--

...

[ She awkwardly looks away at that. ] I suppose.

[ Her heels tap on the floor behind him; the only noise in complacent, mutual silence. She looks into the glass doors where animal enclosures are and feels her mood pick up, the tap-tap of her heels getting a bit faster as they get to the mammals exhibit, and upon the door opening she just



oh

my

god?? ]

[nyahilistic]

[RIP Tear, we knew you not very well at all.]

[He leans in the doorway, propping it open with his hip and just lets her take it all in. She was smart to leave mammals for last-- he had a gut feeling she'd like them best, and clearly she'd known herself well enough to know the same. He looks her over as she tries to soak up all the cute, watching how she moves and how she prioritizes what to react to, and folds his arms over his chest.]

[She was a soldier, that much was certain and obvious. But from what he could tell, she was also young. It was a lot less obvious, but it showed in her simple excitement over things someone in the approximate age bracket he assumed her to be by her appearance should be familiar with. Sure, maybe she just really liked mammals, but it also spoke of someone inexperienced. It wasn't like he was that much moreso, he was only eight years older than her, and she had far more life experience from being a part of the fucking military.]

...These guys are a little harder to just take out of their enclosures, but there's a small courtyard if you want to sit with any of them.

[mystearious]

[ She doesn't know what to say to that.

She does know what to say to that. ]

I- if you wouldn't mind...

[ Her voice is quiet and unobtrusive, but it's very clear that this is the kind of tender therapy that Tear has needed since a long damn while. Just her and cute things and cute things and her and this stoic NEET too. She's really grateful for what he's done that... she feels like there must be something she can do in return. She'd ask him if he'd like lunch or something but she doesn't know if she has any money... ]

They're all so cute, and so different... I'm so lucky.

[nyahilistic]

[Honestly, Tear, just quiet companionship is more than enough for Ichimatsu. He'd probably self-destruct if you asked him out to lunch, because it'd come off as a date. He pushes off the door and lets it swing quietly shut, moving down the hallway.]

This is what I do, I don't mind at all. Here, pick one.

[mystearious]

P- Pick one?

[ She looks stunned, as if he just... offered one to her. To take. Home? But she quickly understands the meaning and picks up something cute and soft.

she looks like she is about to die

-9999 ]

[nyahilistic]

[I mean, if she wants one, she can totally take one. He gets paid for doing the work, not by selling animals. Do they even sell them or is it just a paperwork thing? Who the fuck knows. He watches her stress out and moves past her, opening a gate in a short wall-- it's about to his ribs, but more like Tear's navel, and shuffles into the enclosure.]

You like soft stuff, yeah?

[mystearious]

I...

[ Admitting it feels like admitting a family shame, but she nods. ]

I'm really fond of... all animals, really. Even that snake in there had a cute cat-shaped mouth.

[nyahilistic]

[He barks a short laugh of a sound and stoops. He disappears from view for a moment and makes a grunt of a sound as he gets back to his feet-- this time, in his arms is a Labrador-sized... something. It looks sort of like a cat, but sort of like a dog, but sort of like a rabbit?? What even are Quarantine animals. The point is it's soft and lazy and turns its head real slow to look at Tear as Ichimatsu moves back to the gate.]

Open this back up for me? He's heavy.

[mystearious]

[ AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH

Okay she can't hold in her expression anymore, she looks absolutely, pitifully swooned by that thing! She sets down the ball of fluff and her heart is racing a mile a minute like she just met senpai. ]

I- I- I-...

[ COM... POSURE... COMPOSURE...

she shuts the gate. ]

[nyahilistic]

[He steps back through the gate, and maybe the thing also kind of looks like a Sloth, now that they're closer. It's a weird furry quadruped with a fat tail and a whiskered muzzle and he has no idea what it is or what to call it, but it's big and soft and warm and seems like just the thing Tear would like to cuddle with for possibly an entire day.]

Here, outside. He likes sunbathing.

1/2

[mystearious]

[ She looks stern for just a moment, understanding the gravity of the situation and how she'd like to be seen versus how she's shamelessly acting. ]

If you would-- don't tell a single soul about this.

[mystearious]

[ Once she follows him outside, she absolutely buries her face in this thing

while it's still in Ichimatsu's arms.

Gingerly, she tries to take it from him and if he allows it, 1) he'll find she's pretty strong for her frame and 2) she absolutely cuddles that thing like it's the answer to her life. What's Luke going to do for her that this thing isn't? CONSIDERABLY LESS. ]

1/2 also

[nyahilistic]

[He shakes his head in a real short motion, pursing his lips in a way indicative of trying not to smile. Don't worry, Tear, your secret is safe with him-- who would he tell, anyway?]

[nyahilistic]

[And... then she buries her face in the critter while he's still got it in his arms. Oh.]

[That... sure is a cute girl, very close to him. And scooping a fuzzball out of his arms. Should she be that strong??? She's so small. He bluescreens pretty hard, but luckily Tear is too busy in Fluffville to notice, hopefully.]

[mystearious]

[ She would roll around on the ground with it if she could. She definitely feels the distinct urge to. ]

What's its name? What is it? Does someone own it?

[ This is like that episode of Parks and Rec where Tom tells Ben to treat himself to a Batman costume and he starts crying and says 'yeah... i'm gonna treat myself... ]

[nyahilistic]

[He's still standing in exactly the same position with his arms up like he's holding the creature even though it's very gone. It takes him a moment after her questions to boot back up, and he shakes his head, recoiling.]

Ah-- he doesn't have a name, I try to avoid naming them in case someone wants to adopt. I... don't know what he is, except fuzzy and omnivorous, and no. He just lives here.

[mystearious]

[ She realizes she doesn't want to put the giant Cat-rabbit-dog back down

ever

Very quickly. It's almost startling how swift she makes this decision, but she regains some dignity. ]

Is anyone... interested in him...?

[nyahilistic]

I mean, you, it looks like?

[mystearious]

I... I think so.

[ This is what fate feels like probably?? ]

[nyahilistic]

[He shrugs his shoulders and raises his arms, palms skyward.]

Consider him a Welcome Gift, then. I'll get you the file on his behavior and general food preferences. He's super lazy but it's good to get him out for a little exercise at least every other day.

[mystearious]

Of course...

[ Tear holds it close and feels as if she and the fluff Cabbitdog are one. She's never had a pet, though she's always dreamed of one. She never thought she'd get the chance, either-- ]

Thank you so much, Ichimatsu.

[nyahilistic]

[He forgets how to talk, instead making that funny snorting gurgling sound in his throat again.]

I-it's-- nothing, that's what I do.

[mystearious]

And what you do is a very good thing. [ She finally sets it down and folds her hands behind her back, letting the fluff walk alongside her. ]

... I'll name them Satys.

[nyahilistic]

[His shoulders are all hunched up around his ears and he just looks uncomfortable, but he's happy she's happy and the weird creature also appears to be. He trots alongside her slowly at her heels, waddling on its short legs.]

Does that mean something?

[mystearious]

It was my mother's middle name. Back where I was... supposed to come from, middle names were very important.

... Tear Grants is actually a false name. I'm Mystearica Aura Fende. But please continue to call me Tear.