2; video un: kesitakame

[hoshikiri]

WHO: A lizard, Takame, and you with the face
WHERE: The Network
WHEN: Mid-January
WHAT: how does having pet work???
WARNINGS: none probably?

[So, you’re sitting around minding or going about your own business when a rare face made his way onto the network. He looked normal but as he began to speak he sounded kind of hoarse. Could use a cough drop, probably. But that’s what happens when you go into a fire and your body decided at a young age that you would be bad at breathing, of all things.]

I’m in need of some assistance.

[He set the camera down, coughed a bit off screen, and as it focused there came into view a very basic tank with some very basic amenities. It then zoomed in close to its sole resident, a little salamander as retrieved from a recent quest.]

I’ve never owned a pet before, let alone a salamander as one. How should I care for it?

Comments

voice | un: fashonti

[thaumewturge]

I could research how to care for one, if you'd like. Either I've got a book about it or I can fumble my way through enough searches on the phone to make do.

voice

[hoshikiri]

I would appreciate it. Ordinarily I would search on my own, but my previous search went poorly. [THANKS JUN] Have you ever had a pet before?

[thaumewturge]

Well, unless one counts my chocobo--

Kweh!

--or the birds Osha raised...or the rabbits Auntie Rhela keeps around...or cats Grandmother had towards the end of her life, or Yhen'to's carbuncle, no I haven't. I helped care for the rabbits, but they weren't mine.

[Looking through her messy piles of books now yep.]

Is it a magical salamander or just the lizard?

[hoshikiri]

Just the lizard. You've more experience with other animals than I. Is it your family that keeps them all?

[thaumewturge]

Yes. Mother felt it best to allow us pets if we wished it, saying that so long as none of us tried to bring home a toad or vilekin she wouldn't complain. And Auntie Rhela just really, really likes rabbits.

[No books. To Google!]

They're going to want it moist I imagine, I remember playing in the river and my cousins finding what I can only assume were salamanders around.

text | cri985

[psychonductor]

feed it, water it, play with it… how wrong can you go?

text

[hoshikiri]

Food and water I understand, but I'm unsure how one might play with a salamander.

[psychonductor]

like any animal?? what’s it being a salamander got to do with it

[hoshikiri]

It's small. Just barely the size of my palm.

[crystallinememories]

I don't know much about them, but most reptiles need some sort of heat lamp since they can't generate their own heat.

[wait until he sees the thing catch fire.]

[hoshikiri]

[thankfully that ability was removed humanely, so it was just a normal little lizard dude.]

A heat lamp... understood. It was bred to be able to breathe fire, but it is no longer able to.

[crystallinememories]

It-- what?

[No, no. He won't ask.] I wonder why it can't anymore... anyway, I supposed then it will certainly need one. And probably some... logs and such to climb and hide on?

[hoshikiri]

I believe some specialists safely removed their capability to do so. [The safely was the important part. But towards the side Takame was repeating and writing down what Raha was suggesting. Maybe a stray cough in between. Don't worry about it.]

video; un: riftdancer

[thavnairian]

You okay? You sound like you need some water... or better yet, honey lemon tea.

[But wait, that's not what Takame needs help with.]

Ah! Is that a lizard? [He rubs at his chin.] Hmm... as kids we'd play with them, but if they get too cold, they don't do well. So you should make sure it has a good way of getting warm, like a lamp you can put in its house, or... maybe give it some clothes?

It's so damn cold here you might want to do both. They have shops here that sell pets, I bet they would have what you need.

[hoshikiri]

I'm fine. [He says, still hoarse.]

A salamander, actually. Raha spoke of a heat lamp as well, but... clothes? Can it wear clothes? It's so small...

[thavnairian]

Are you sure? Maybe you should have the others look at you. Don't need you coughing up a lung.

—Actually, tiny clothes are all the rage. For pets, I mean. I've seen those little toy-sized dogs and even cats wearing sweaters. A lizard isn't that much bigger... you could probably put doll clothes on it, or make some out of socks.

[hoshikiri]

With rest I will recover. [He says, possibly not going to rest.]

Are they? I've seen dogs and cats on occasion wearing sweaters, but I never considered that a salamander would benefit from it. I'm no weaver by any means but... Hmm. [the fact that he's actively considering this]

voice | un: paintedfox

[stripartist]

Takame? Are you alright?

[hoshikiri]

Yusuke? [Oh hells.

He tried clearing his throat further from the phone. The cough came out much heavier than he wanted, but enough to sound less rough.]

I am fine, I assure you. ["Fine" as in "not currently dying". Which was true, so it was enough right?]

[stripartist]

Are you sure? You sound awful.

[hoshikiri]

I am. My voice should return to normal within a week's time... you needn't worry. [He says after saying something kind of worrisome.]

voice | UN: Thorn

[poisontippedcure]

[It looks like Rose is having an emotion. Oh no. That emotion is worry.]

Takame? You sound terrible. Is aught amiss?

thanks gmail

[hoshikiri]

[He's beginning to think he should have posted this as a text... he keeps worrying his friends!!]

No, no, I will be fine, I just... [Nope, stopping himself.] Please, do not worry.

[poisontippedcure]

You certainly don't sound fine, Takame.

[Was it the race? Was she responsible? Even after all these years, Rose can't abide the thought of someone getting hurt on her behalf again. Never again.]

I'm coming over.

[hoshikiri]

[No Rose, it wasn't the race. Takame is just stupid.]

You're... coming over? Ah, I... see. [That's the sound of someone who has no power to stop her.]