The Old College Try

[mansbestend]

Sender: Denji
To: Everyone
Subject: i write in the book and people read this???


OK so

I had a genius idea and wanna test sumthin

someone come swing at me. one guy and one girl. kick my ass if you want.

then we go eat or whatever after. i dunno.

Comments

Text; UN: Thancred

[censorshipnutkin]

What, exactly, are you trying to prove with this?

[mansbestend]

if what I can do works right

it did with the witch oven, but it's not workin right now

[censorshipnutkin]

Is this a thing from home? You can probably still do it.

And what is 'the witch oven'

[mansbestend]

Yeah. Cord's there and everything, but pullin it doesn't work like it should

It just barks

Which is weirder than witch ovens

[censorshipnutkin]

...Barks. What 'just barks'?

You know what, I don't think I'll understand. But I'll fight you if you want to see what's causing problems.

[mansbestend]

good.

i'm gonna be around the job board.

[censorshipnutkin]

Sounds good.

[He's showing up in about 15 minutes, a sparkly carbuncle following him around.]

You Denji?

[mansbestend]

[You caught him mid very wide, long yawn full of pointed teeth. He managed a nod despite it, but needed a moment to roll his shoulders and loosen up.

Then he notices the... wait. WAIT. This is important. Suddenly he has energy again! what is that-]

Ha... nice sparkle-dog!

[censorshipnutkin]

[Holy teeth. But, he won't make any comments for the moment.]

That's Zinny.

She's what's called a carbuncle from my world. Sparkle dog is pretty close.

[mansbestend]

Zinnyyyy!

[He made a beeline and hunkered down to pet this sparkle dog. Sorry, Thancred. How long had it been since he got to pet a little buddy? Too long. He always had a thing for dogs, after all, and this absolutely looked like a pal who wouldn't mind some pets.]

You're a friend and a nightlight, huh? You do the best job!

[censorshipnutkin]

[Zinny does a few carbuncle squeaks and hops as she gets attention. She loves it. Thancred is now second on her list after this guy.]

She does dim a little when she sleeps, but there's still a small glow.

[He pauses]

Did you have a pet back at home?

[mansbestend]

I guess so. He was more my best friend than a pet.

[Warm and soft. That's what a Zinny is! She made funny noises and that was awesome. He had no problem giving her whatever it was she wanted, whether it was a headbutt for more headscritches or a roll over for tummy rubs.]

...He died, though. It's been weird doin' all my usual stuff and not hearin' the little paws makin' their tip-tip-tip on the ground or his bark.

[censorshipnutkin]

[Ah.]

I'm sorry for your loss. Pet loss hasn't been recent for me, but I understand.

You get so used to having someone around, and then they're just not there.

[Thancred, he is talking about a dog...thing, not a person.]

[mansbestend]

[The condolences solicited a shrug from him.]

Yeah, I miss him a lot, but that's where dreams come in. Then we can hang out or talk or whatever comes to mind.

...So that's why I got worried and asked people to fight me or do somethin' to lemme change. I dunno about this dreamotion stuff, but I do know about takin' out stupid devil bastards who wanna eat humans.

Talk about a career choice, huh? Devil-hunting.