[Video] [Locked to New Hires only] [TW for Punishment in the linked log.]

[bringinghopewithme]

Stacia, Armstrong, I need to see both of you in person. On the double. Five minutes ago. Anyone else with a real good sense of smell, you come see me too.

[On the camera, underneath his oak tree in the garden, Bunny has a little bit of that dead-eyed stare that comes from being reminded how thoroughly shackled they all are to the most banal form of evil. Mostly, this is just businesslike, direct. Calmly urgent, after his furious meltdown in the Executive wing got him nowhere good.]

Everyone else: Sam and Dan and I tracked what attacked Tenten and Setsuna into the Executive wing. I smelled it there recently before the suits caught us and kicked us out.

[There's no real reason to bring up their Punishment. It happened, it hurt, he hates that he dragged Dan and Sam into it, but they all knew it was likely to happen. And if anything they learned can help prevent any further damage to the kids, it'll have absolutely been worth it.]

I couldn't identify the species, but it's supernatural, and old. Older than me. Some variety of predator. Given we tracked it into areas we're not allowed to go, and it spent a lot of time wandering around there all leisurely, it either looks enough like a suit that they gave it a pass, or it can walk through walls. If I had money, I'd put it on walking through walls. I'm not ruling out both, though.

But don't worry. Jorgmund's bringing in - [he scoffs, and rolls his eyes hugely] dogs to finish tracking it.

I'm still racking my brains to see if any memory of what it could be falls out, but if any of that rings any bells for all you, I'm all ears.

Comments

[bringinghopewithme]

Well. Too bad that's a lead down, but I'm not mad you haven't had to meet whatever attacked the girls.

[He keeps holding the cloth out for Catra to memorize the smell in her own time, but considers the peach tree and the new batch of peonies while he does.]

Do me a favor and hop on the secret comms if you smell any trace of that. I don't trust dogs to do a better tracking job than I can. Are you friends with Tenten and Setsuna?

[heterochrocatic]

Double Trouble was a jerk, but they weren't a murderer.

[ Catra gives a few more inquisitive sniffs, her tail giving a few lazy flicks as she does. ]

I can dothat. And yeah, Setsuna's my roommate. I dunno if we're friends.

[ They're friends but Catra has a hard time admitting these things. Or trusting that anyone really wants to be her friend. ]

[bringinghopewithme]

[He raises an eyebrow at 'dunno if we're friends.' But Catra has never come across as anything but deliberately distanced. Setsuna would maybe say different, but since she's not here to speak for herself -

He tucks the cloth back into the relative smell-free safety of his holster.] Any chance you know what her favorite fruit is?

[Tenten's get-well basket is all but assembled, but he hasn't even started Setsuna's.]

[heterochrocatic]

[ Catra gives a shake of her head. ]

Never came up.

[ She looks down, scuffs at the ground with one foot in an awkward, unhappy way. ]

Hope she's okay.

[bringinghopewithme]

So do I.

[He reflects back Catra's melancholy, considers his small patch, and finally plucks a few fruits. He holds them out to Catra.]

Pick one. Mango - or raspberry?

[heterochrocatic]

Uh...

[ Catra stares at the offered fruit. ]

I don't think I've had either.

[bringinghopewithme]

Really? Ah, you're in for a treat.

[Bunny pauses before handing the slice of mango and the raspberries over, though.]

Might be I should do an allergy screening for some of the folks who aren't human. Either of those smell like something your instincts tell you not to eat?

[after all, alliums are toxic to many species, but humans can't get enough of it. And lemons are toxic to housecats - does that count for peoplecats? He'd hate to find out by poisoning Catra.]

[heterochrocatic]

[ Catra lifts her hand towards her nose and sniffs. Hm. ]

Uh... no, smells fine to me.

[ She starts with one of the raspberries and pops it into her mouth. There's a pensive expression as the semi-tart, semi-sweet flavors bursts onto her tongue. ]

Whoa. That's... good.

[bringinghopewithme]

Right? Give this a try, tell me which you think Setsuna would like more.

[He holds out the piece of mango. He's got it ripe to the absolute perfect sweetness and consistency, no stringy fiber in the bite, just mango so smooth it nearly melts in the mouth.]

[heterochrocatic]

[ Catra hesitates, then reaches out to take offered mango as well. She pops it into her mouth and her eyes just... widen. ]

What? That's so good!

[bringinghopewithme]

Right? Get 'em at the right time and they're basically already candy. I don't have to do much at all.

[Mango for Setsuna's basket it is. He hands over the rest of the mango that he cut the slices from.]

You can have the rest. Think Setsuna will like it?

[heterochrocatic]

[ Catra begins to chow down on the mango with relish. ]

I think she will!

[bringinghopewithme]

[Catra's enjoyment of the mango is so vibrant that it makes him want to set up a tasting board for as many different fruits as possible for her and Adora. Speaking of Adora actually. He reaches over to a woven grass basket and plucks out another mango, tossing it to Catra.]

Your friend, Adora, she's from your same world, right? Take one for her, too. She been all right, since she found Tenten and Setsuna?

[heterochrocatic]

[ Catra neatly catches the mango without much effort. Grins. ]

I think she's doing okay. Mostly just... beating herself up for not being able to do more.

[ A frown. ]

She always does that.