Windrose, where the wind blows

[tothefly]

Who: Windrose crew and you, distinguished visitors!
Broadcast: Naaah.
Action: Windrose, various points in the near vicinity
When: Until we get off this frozen rock

[On New Year's Day, the crew on board the Windrose and those nearby may notice the chill as the doors to the cargo bay are left open, and their captain making quite a bit of noise as she inspects their newly expanded home away from home. This is likely to go on for a while. Feel free to come investigate, chat among yourselves, complain about the cold, etc!]

Comments

[pain_train]

Oh, that sounds really pretty.

You should take me there. We can work on a drawing together.

[unbearablynaive]

[His "drawing" tends to be far more photorealistic and less awesome than Wrath's, but if that's how she wants to spend time, he can hardly object.]

I'd like that. Tomorrow, so we can observe the changing light?

[pain_train]

You're on, mister. Officer Snuggles can come with us too, the PT will be good for him.

[unbearablynaive]

[Does he get to come? Does he get to come? Officer Snuggles yips excitedly and wags his tail, and the Vision ruffles the fur on the little guy's head.] Yes, little one, you can come along.

He seems to be settling in, I think. Have you begun his training already?

[pain_train]

I have! I made a clicker, so that's the start. But see...

[She looks at Officer Snuggles and then holds her hand out parallel to the ground.] Snuggles! Attention!

[He immediately goes quiet and alert, then as an afterthought, sits.]

Good boy!

[She sticks her hand in her pocket to hit the clicker.]

See, start small. But he's going to learn all kinds of useful skills.

[unbearablynaive]

Good boy, indeed. [The clicker is a better idea than food-based rewards, especially with their food supply being limited to protein gel much of the time - and if they want to train him to catch vermin, hunting instincts are more likely to kick in if he's not overweight.]

If you develop a new command, please do tell me so I may practice it with him.

[pain_train]

[Well, you still have to "charge up" the clicker with treats, so to speak, but it's at least better than a one-to-one system.]

I'll do it! We're working on this for now, but I think next it's going to be carrying things to different crewmembers.

[unbearablynaive]

[A straight one-to-one system would just get them a fat fox.]

Yes, if he can identify us by scent, he'll also be better able to detect visitors who don't feel the need to use traditional means of entry. It's a good idea.

[pain_train]

He should be able to. Foxes have a really good sense of smell, I read that. So we just have to work on a bunch of different skills slowly and then work them together!

[unbearablynaive]

I'm happy to help with him.

[The fox seems to always be in a good mood, at least when the Vision sees him. It's pleasant to have someone so exuberant.]