☑ 1st Security Check [Video]

[always_alert]

[Oh hey, it's that redhead who was too paranoid to introduce himself on the network until now.]

[The video opens to a scrawny, (literally) red-haired man who looks like he could use a few consecutive weeks of sleep, given how dark and sunken in his eyes are. His expression is one of thinly-veiled exasperation, which seems aimed solely at the camera, as if it offended him somehow. Probably because he actually has to, you know, use it. To communicate with people. Most of whom he doesn't know or trust; which is sort of a big deal to him.]


I found this hiding behind a trash-receptacle nearby my place of residence.

[He holds up a small, underweight puppy with dirty paws for a few moments, before placing it back on the floor once it starts squirming and trying to lick his face.]

I've contacted the local animal shelters, and to their knowledge, no one has reported a missing animal matching this one's description. If this...dog belongs to you or someone you know, please contact me at the earliest convenience.  Preferably with some sort of verification of ownership.

[He leans forward to shut of the feed, but just before he can, the puppy jumps onto his lap, smearing it's dirty paws all over his clean white shirt. He makes a face, mutters something unflattering in his native language, then scoops up the pup and shuts of the camera.]

Comments

[waiting]

[ Probably a little bit worse. But the ones in City Hall are almost tame. ]

That's a little long. He won't remember it. [ His tone stays even, but he's pretty much grinning on the other end. ] "Hellion" could work, though.

[always_alert]

[There's a pause as he considers the name.]

It has a nice ring to it, but it's not a name I'd like him to live up to.

[Well, someone obviously believes in self fulfilling prophecies.]

[waiting]

Maybe you'll figure one out once you get to know him better. Sometimes it takes a while.

[always_alert]

I'm sure I'll think of something eventually.

[Whether or not it will be any good is entirely up for speculation.]

[waiting]

[ Yeahhh based on what Bradbury knows of the guy, it's all too likely he'll come up with something unnecessarily complicated. After all, who even says "trash-receptacle"? ]

Just remember to keep it something simple. He'll remember it faster that way.

[always_alert]

[Someone who thinks "dumpster" is a much more depressing-sounding place to find a puppy, that's who.]

I take it "Furry Quadruped" is out of the question, then?

[waiting]

Definitely out.

[always_alert]

If that's the case, then Cybertronian names will most likely be too complex for him to understand. Even something simple, like may prove to be too difficult for him.

[waiting]

[ U H. ]

I'm not sure I understood that either.

[always_alert]

[What's the matter Rick, never heard a robotic alien language before?]

Loosely translated, it means "scout."

[waiting]

[ NOPE and he's not all that keen on a repeat of the experience either. ]

"Scout" works better, I think.

This the first time you ever had a pet, or do they have robot dogs where you come from?

[always_alert]

[Embrace your inner robot, Bradbury. Allow him to teach you the language of his people.]


Dogs, no. We did have an assortment of other animals though, like cats, foxes, and rabbits.

[waiting]

[ His boss is already enough of a robot without actually being one! ]

You had foxes, but not dogs?

[always_alert]

[All the more reason to learn the language! Effective communication is a must-have for building and maintaining relationships.]

Yes. Is that supposed to be surprising, somehow?

[waiting]

[ It's going to take more than robotspeak to fix that burned bridge, unfortunately... ]

Let's just say foxes aren't what most people would consider pets.

[always_alert]

[Baby steps, Rick. Baby steps.]

Hn. I wasn't aware anyone considered them pets. On Cybertron, they were primarily used as game-animals by the upper-class.

[Which is sort of the exact opposite of being a pet.]

[waiting]

[ He pauses. ]

But you do know how to take care of a dog, right?

[always_alert]

---More or less.

[He's got the basics down, at least.]

I'm not going to shoot him, if that's what you're wondering.

[waiting]

I didn't think you were going to.

[ Pause. He's not really close enough to the guy to offer any real help, so... ]

You'll figure it out. And if not... I guess you can look forward to a lot of broken furniture when he grows up.

[always_alert]

I don't think that will be a problem, but thanks anyway for the warning.

[He says as he makes a mental note to invest some time in obedience-training.]