sixwordstories | (no subject)

Quint long ago came to the conclusion that some animals can just identify someone who habitually carries treats. Between that, and that most of them can also smell that he's not human, the child-sized android has had a lot of strange reactions from various furred, feathered, and leathery creatures over the years. A fox sniffing at him doesn't register as weird, and he doesn't even think about it before rummaging in a pocket with one hand as he shifts the weight of the backpack he's wearing with the other. A moment later and he slowly crouches down to offer the fox some chicken jerky strips.

Komaru does not beg for treats. That would be highly undignified. On the other hand, it would be quite rude to reject well-meaning hospitality. Smiling and huffing happily, he accepts the jerky, tail wagging.

Quint smiles back at the friendly fox, and glances around to get a better idea of just where he's at. One of the difficulties of random interdimensional exploration was that he often only has the vaguest idea, via a metool report, where he'll start from. But if it's a place with friendly foxes it can't be all bad, right?

Komaru has picked a small park for today's ramble. There are plenty of trees and flowers, but it's really too close to a reasonably large city to really account for the presence of a tame fox. Not that beggars can afford to be choosers when it comes to finding wild spots to roam. But he seldom runs into people here, and the ones he does meet tend to be friendly.

The ones who aren't, he deals with in his own way. This one, though, counts as a friend already.

Sniffing the boy's hand and noting that he's definitely not human, he gives a curious whine, accompanied by a questioning glance.

"It's easy for you to tell the difference, huh," Quint says softly. "It's ok. I won't hurt you." And he'll see if Komaru would like ear-scritches.

Komaru nods in agreement, then cheerfully submits to the ear-scritches. They may not be the most dignified thing in the world, but humans and human-like creatures certainly seem to enjoy giving them. And, of course, they feel just amazing to receive...

"You're very smart, too," Quint says. "I think you understand everything I'm saying... I wonder if that's normal for this world."

As he speaks he decides to sit down on the grass in order to better focus on scritches, pushing his backpack off his shoulder to sit beside him as he does.

Komaru nods again when the boy implies he can understand every word, and shakes his head gravely when asked if it's normal. He sees no reason to play dumb around this particular individual. Children, after all, tend to be more open and accepting, and non-humans are frequently better at understanding other non-humans. Whining happily at the continued scritches, he rests a paw on the boy's knee, arching into his hands.

Edited 2017-06-11 01:01 (UTC)

This wolf isn't sure he likes that. He gives a low growl, ears dropping back against his head. Still - there's something different about this fox, just as there's something different about him I turn. So rather than grab the smaller dog in his jaws as a snack, Fafnir stands a little taller, ever the alpha.

"My name's Quint. I'm sort of an explorer. I go to different timelines, and I learn things about how and why those universes are different from the one I come from. Sometimes I learn things that help others back home, and sometimes the things I learn are just interesting or fun." Quint's general reasoning, as he continues to scritch, is similar. While he'd normally keep quiet about his nature and mission unless circumstances seemed to require otherwise, an unusually sapient fox who can already tell he isn't human doesn't seem like a potential threat to a reality-hopping android. Besides, scritches are fun.

Komaru tilts his head at that little display, undaunted. He doesn't let himself get pushed around, but he has no desire to actually try to assert dominance, either. Especially when this is clearly not a real wolf he's looking at. He makes a curious noise and paws the ground.

Komaru gives his hand a single lick, a kind of general pleased-to-meet-you gesture. He's met plane-hoppers before, but they're usually powerful wizards and never so young. He's curious enough to consider dropping the facade.

Due to his nature, Quint's apparent age and his actual one don't really match. But there's something about being designed to look like a child that causes retention of some 'childish' behaviors... and if one part of that means he's never quite developed the biases some adult humans seem to have then that's something Quint's never really minded. He's generally the most accepting of others - no matter how strange - out of his own siblings as well. He doesn't know if that's due to sheer chance, lingering Lightbot coding, or to compliment the 'infiltration' aspect of his original secondary function. Whatever the reason, again, he doesn't really mind.

It's a nice day, there's a friendly intelligent fox to scritch, and he's internally preparing a report on what he knows of this particular timeline so far - mostly comparison of pollution levels and that the portal's connection point is in a park. "It's a really nice day, too."

Edited 2017-06-11 23:44 (UTC)

Fafnir lifts his head and gives a sharp snort. When the fox paws the ground, Fafnir lowers his head a bit and sniffs loudly. Slowly he circles around the fox, but not in a predatory manner. Just evaluating his new canine commission.

Komaru huffs in agreement, tugging the boy's trouser leg to indicate he should follow. If he wants to really enjoy the lovely summer weather, there's a nice lake not far off.

Komaru watches, wary but not intimidated. He knows how it goes with other canines. Most insist on establishing some kind of pecking-order. He's never seen the point himself (his human form is a big believer in equality and not letting anyone else tell him what to do), but he supposes it's instinct for dogs whose natural order involves a pack. He respects the need for order and structure, even if he doesn't have it himself.

Fafnir is very much about order and hierarchy. He fought so hard for it in his own pack, and wasn't about to let it go. When he established that this fox, or whatever he was, was nothing to be feared, he sat down. Tall and proud, intending to give the impression that his strength was unmatched and he was the alpha.

Komaru snorts and shrugs. If this wolf wants to think of himself as "the Alpha", that's fair enough. As long as he doesn't start pushing Komaru around, he's welcome to feel as dominant as he wants.

The fox smiles. Komaru emotes more like a human than a canine. For him, a smile clearly means he's happy and comfortable, not fearful or submissive.

"You want to show me something?" Quint guesses, hefting his backpack and standing up. "Ok."

Komaru leads him down to the lake, then dives in to catch a couple fish. They can enjoy the beautiful weather and some nice food at the same time. He hopes the boy knows how to make fire, since even in this form he's not a fan of raw food.

Quint smiles when he sees the lake, setting his backpack down and peeling off his shirt to fold up and lay on top of it. This reveals a marking like a green tattoo on his right shoulder that reads 'RKN-002'.

Possible swimming is detoured by the sight of the fish. He's not sure about taking it from the fox, as that tends to cause hostile reactions in animals. Komaru might have to give the puzzled android him a little more of a hint.

Komaru can't blame him for being oblivious; kids often are. So he deposits his catch at the boy's feet and goes to catch another.

Well, he's not going to let it go to waste. Quint reaches for his backpack to get the appropriate supplies. Sashimi is a little too complicated and formal for lakeside food, so pan-frying seems to be the way to go.

No need to make a fire, he has some sort of little high-tech portable griddle in there. And a small knife for the messy business of fish-cleaning. Soon there will be the delicious smell of frying fish.

Komaru brings him a second fish, then sits down to wait while both are cooked and cleaned. He groans happily at the smells soon filling the air, watching with anticipation. The lack of a fire is a bit confusing, but he's seen stranger forms of magic in his time, too. This boy who's not human is clearly some kind of prodigy.

Unfortunately aggression is in a wolf's nature - and Fafnir especially so given his pedigree. But for the moment, he's content. The violence only comes when he's threatened or when he feels the need to make a point. He will not be disrespected - particularly in front of his pack.

But for the moment, it's just the pair of them.

The snort he gives after Komaru's smile is similarly more human than canine. His head tilts up and he even gives a low chortle; the closest sound he can manage in this form to a laugh. What a curious little red-furred creature. Fafnir's definitely intrigued.