(no subject)

[pain_train]

Who: Wrath
Broadcast: Video to everyone
Action: Windrose, or later at the fox park on the Iskaulit
When: Current

[Wrath as most people have not seen her. Hair's the same, jumpsuit is the same, expression is devoid of all the normal friendliness or happiness she displays. Her look into the camera is flat, stern. When she speaks, her tone is clipped, words a lot more precise than normal, like she's making a report.]

This is Wrath, First Officer of the Windrose.

There is a black fox that's been getting aggressive with the domesticated foxes in the fox park. Today she went after Officer Snuggles, and shortly thereafter revealed herself to be a member of the fleet rather than a pet, capable of speech. I have attached a recording of our encounter to this video for anyone who is curious.

Officer Snuggles is the vulpine officer for the Windrose security team and a valued crew asset. I do not tolerate aggression or violence toward any member of my crew and informed the black fox of such. She claimed that he is not a member of our crew and should not be "here"--presumably the fox park.

Officer Snuggles is listed on the crew roster of the Windrose. The fox park is for general use. I respectfully request that whichever captain has this individual on his or her crew adjust the understanding of their misinformed crewman.

Or I will.

I further suggest that those who have the foxes from Arslae as pets or working animals remain with them while they play in the fox park, as it seems there is a member of the fleet who feels justified bullying domesticated animals and doesn't understand the concept of shared or general use space.

Wrath out.

[Attached video: this from Wrath's first person viewpoint, taken from the data record on her artificial eye.]

Comments

video

[passingthrough]

[Oh, look, Wrath is calling someone out publicly. At least there is no mention of sandwich bags?] Is Snuggles okay?

video

[pain_train]

Yes. He worked hard and completed the rest of his duties for the day satisfactorily. I'm sure he'd enjoy it if everyone made a fuss over him now that he's off duty.

video

[passingthrough]

I can do fussing. [She's still not sure what either of them do for these duties, but she knows he's cute in the vest.] It's been awhile since we played.

video

[pain_train]

[Wrath relaxes a little.] Thanks, Kitty. He didn't get to play any today when he was supposed to, so...

Video

[spontaneouscombustion]

[Weeeell shoot, and she'd been having a pretty nice drift week too.

After the broadcast, Pinkie spent a LOT of time talking to Gummy about what to do; after all, both Wrath AND Renart are her friends, she's spent an equal amount of time with them, they both like her pastries, she doesn't want to take sides or make one or another angry with her.

But then he gives her some good (silent, possibly telepathic?) advice, and while still a little nervous, she at least has a tentative plan when she calls Wrath.]

Hey there, Wrath. IIII might be able to help all three of you out?

Video

[pain_train]

[Same stern expression.] I'm listening.

[spontaneouscombustion]

[Oh no, not the stern face. Pinkie's just gonna gulp a bit before continuing.]

Okay, so IIII might know the fox already? She's my friend Renart, we've talked a few times before, and she's always seemed really nice, but I also know what she did to Officer Snuggles was kinda mean, so maybe you guys should talk it out while somebody else is there and that way maybe you can work something out and that way there's no more fighting and we can all stay friends together?

video;;

[reconstitution]

[ Just fucking great. One more crew member to add to the continually growing list of shit he needs to handle.. ]

Is he okay?

video;;

[pain_train]

I intervened quickly. He was able to complete the rest of his duties for the day satisfactorily and is now taking his freedom time in the safety of the Windrose.

[...this is Winter she's talking to. Wait. She blinks and seems to take a mental step back.]

He tends to move on quick. I'm pissed as hell.

video;;

[reconstitution]

I'm glad he wasn't hurt. [ ... ] I'll talk to Renart about her motives.

[ What's one more stressful situation on top of the pile, right? He can carry it. ]

[text]

[poisoninmypocket]

[Must you, Renart?]

First Officer Wrath,

I must extend my humblest apologies for Renart's behavior. She is, for lack of a better term, simply a fox, and dominance displays are something common to her. I don't believe she intended to hurt Officer Snuggles.

[God, did he really just have to write that? This is ridiculous.]

Merely assert herself as the dominant fox in the area. She's my crewmate aboard the Heron and a very dear friend to me from another reality. I see others have offered, but I can certainly speak with her and accompany her to the fox park next time she goes to try to mitigate any unfortunate displays.

Deepest Apologies,
Montague Navarro

[text]

[pain_train]

[Wrath takes pains to actually punctuate her reply. This is incredibly unusual.]

she is dealing with domesticated foxes who likely do not share her behaviors. i suggest you explain this to her. the foxes are from the planet arslae and i would be happy to give you a copy of the breed information library if that will make the point better.

your help is appreciated. i do not wish to see this incident repeated, or for the public fox park lose its intended use.

lt. wrath

[text]

[poisoninmypocket]

Lt. Wrath,

I'm not terribly sure explaining the domestication of her kind by humans would move her in any positive way, Lieutenant. She is a wild woman and creature. Her very nature would rebel against such a thing. But I can entreat her to be nice. She does listen to me.

[Occasionally.]

Continued Apologies,
Montague Navarro

[video]

[thebestseller]

[Castle actually looks distressed at this news.]

Oh, come on, really? Officer Snuggles is a good fox. Is he going to be alright?

[video]

[pain_train]

He's fine, but I bet he wouldn't mind you fussing over him. He's off duty now.

[video]

[thebestseller]

Oh, my little Snugglybookums is getting all kinds of attention.

[There's a pause before a "did I just say that aloud?" expression crosses Castle's face.]

video; encrypted

[unbearablynaive]

Are you both quite all right?

video; encrypted

[pain_train]

Snuggles is fine. Got him back to the ship and he finished out his work day. He's letting everyone fuss over him now.

I'm pissed.

video; encrypted

[unbearablynaive]

Understandably so. That's not appropriate behavior.

I don't suppose you caught her name?

[private video]

[ecclesiophobic]

You know, that fox has a nice pelt. Would probably make a nice muffler for your hands, keep them warm on the next frozen planet.

[private video]

[pain_train]

Don't tempt me. I'm not gonna get to hang around the Heron for a long time because of her.

[private video]

[ecclesiophobic]

[Oh.]

..You know no one will stop you from inviting the three of them over, yes?

[metachrosis]

[Espio doesn't recognise Renart in her fox form. He doesn't recognise her voice either, since he mostly tries to avoid having anything to do with her. He does, however, see her mentioned in the broadcast, and the impression he gets is that she's the same Renart. ...ugh.

Still, when you know someone long enough to consider them "one of us" even when you don't like them...]

I see you met the ever-charming Renart. This kind of thing is normal.

But you know, I can kind of see why a fox might be mad at people selectively breeding and manipulating foxes to erase their nature and make them more acceptable and subservient. If people had bred your species for temperament, you'd say they were playing God and trying to control nature, right?

Wouldn't happen on my world, but hers is different.

[pain_train]

i don't believe in god and that's basically how humans handle themselves since we got uterine replicators and standardized genetic screening with engineering

i also know that how someone or something looks doesn't matter only actions matter i have spent a lot of time killing both things that look human and things that are actually human because it was my job

so i see what you are trying to argue on an emotional level but don't find it all that convincing

[metachrosis]

[That is kinda creepy. Can we not engineer sapient species please? Espio kinda cringes at that because ugh.]

The march of science is ever disturbing.

I'm saying she's taken offence and sees the existence of domesticated foxes as an insult. Sorry if that's 'not convincing', but it is what it is, and also kind of obvious.

If you want people to listen to you, it usually works out better if you try to understand why they're mad in the first place.