crystal

[rathercommon]

FORM: Crystallll
SENDER: Kitty Jones
RECIPIENT: Everyone
WHAT: DOGS DOGS DOGS DOGS EVERYBODYYYY DOGS DOGS DOGS DOGS DOGS
WHEN: Nowish
WHERE: Everywhere
NOTES: Everyone seems sad so: dogs

[ Kitty sounds faintly aggrieved. The reason: ]

So, there's this dog that started following me about. I guess it's mine now or - something. Anyway. Has anyone got ideas for a name?

Comments

[letoldthingsdie]

I don't know that I have any great suggestions but you should go with something strong and with meaning to you. I named my mabari, Caedus. It has a few meanings where I'm from. 'To kill' or 'to sacrifice' are the two common ones. I thought perhaps it would suit a dog meant to become a war hound.

[Just take that in Kitty. He basically named his dog Killer, like a giant nerd.]

[rathercommon]

[ you. fucking. nerd. ]

Don't you think that kind of - you know - pushes it into a corner, though? I mean, I'm sure it's got other qualities beyond being a war dog.

[letoldthingsdie]

Oh, he does have other qualities. The name itself just sounds strong and imposing.

[You know. Like Kylo Ren. He's honestly really bad at naming things. Someone should stop him from naming things ever.]

In truth, he's actually a bit goofy and playful. He listens well when I try to train him, but when we aren't training he's just a normal dog. He gets spoiled by my girlfriend well enough. Well- partner. I guess.

[He's not sure 'girlfriend' really sums up Rey. He's trying it out still.]

[rathercommon]

[ Oh, good. ]

Well, that's good to hear. That's the thing I'm a bit afraid of, with these dogs. I don't want 'em to be - you know - forced into fighting. I want 'em to have more to life.

[letoldthingsdie]

Of course. They should have that. It's just something that's been bred into them to be capable fighters. I thought to utilize that. Mabari historically fight beside their bonded partners and are revered in Ferelden. Having a creature that loyal by our sides when we have to deal with the things that come out of the rifts didn't seem like such a bad thing to me.

[rathercommon]

No. It isn't. It's just - [ A huffed sigh. ] I don't - I mean, is it possible to be sure that they're not - you know - functionally slaves to us? They're really smart, right. So can we be sure that they're all right with the situation as it is?

[letoldthingsdie]

[He sighs as well, trying to think of an answer for her.]

I don't know. I do know that Caedus chose me. I kept trying to get him to leave me alone at first, to go back where he came from, but he chose me. If he doesn't like something he usually makes it pretty clear. They're intelligent beasts, as you say. They just also happen to have a strong desire to defend us if needed.

[He's quiet for a moment, trying to think of what else he can say about it.]

It's not as if it's a requirement that they be war hounds. It's just something they were historically bred to do.

[rathercommon]

Yeah. And something they're trained to do, now. I mean, that's not exactly a choice, is it?

[letoldthingsdie]

[Completely deadpan:]

Would it make you feel better to know I let him keep a pair of old shoes to chew? Sometimes all we do is throw balls and sticks. He never gets tired of that.

[rathercommon]

I mean - I suppose it does, yeah. I mean, it's hard to know how he actually feels about it, isn't it? Perhaps he finds it degrading.

[ Kitty Jones, Professional Overthinker. ]

[letoldthingsdie]

I think you're worrying about it a bit too much. They may not be able to speak but they understand feelings. And like I said - you don't have to train your mabari to be a warhound.

[rathercommon]

Understand feelings? What d'you mean?

[letoldthingsdie]

I just mean animals in general are instinctive creatures. They don't articulate the way that we do, they can understand, though. Mabari in particular are intelligent enough to understand human intention. I'm sure yours would understand how you feel just through your actions. If you don't want to train him to be some sort of war hound that's up to you, is what I mean.