Checkers wrote: ↑Tue Oct 05, 2021 7:27 pm
Checkers eyes Runt as the bigger than normal dog boy comes in. He gives the air a sniff or two, and his nose confirms what his eyes can clearly see: Runt is no pup, and the cocktail of drugs running through him means he's undergone the treatment. Well, damn. He's worked with other mutes before, including dog boys. Hell, most often with dog boys, the way they breed 'em.
In spite of himself, he finds a bit of respect for the scarred psi-hound.
Good. This posting will be interesting, at least.
He does not, however, say anything just yet. His blood is racing at being in such close proximity with another predator, and he vacillates between looking forward to hunting
with the big dog and immediately wanting to
hunt the big dog.
So distracted is he that the entrance of the new human female, Frida, merits only a huff and one ear turned in her direction. His eyes don't leave Runt.
Runt feels the eyes of a predator on him. It's a sixth sense you develop in this world. Those who don't die first. His eye glances around the room looking for the offender. The dog boy considers the psi-stalker for a moment, a reasonable and valid choice, but
@Marvin doesn't seem to be paying Runt any attention.
Then
@Checkers and Runt lock eyes. Something ancient, as old as canines and felines, tries to take hold of Runt. He's a good soldier and he's been around long enough not to let it surface completely. Even so, he finds himself maintaining the eye contact, predator to predator, and waiting to see who breaks first.
'Not a game you're going to win, pup.'
Frida wrote: ↑Wed Oct 06, 2021 8:50 am
...She turns her attention to the large figure next to her.
”How long have you been in service... Runt?” Her eyes scanning the bio-comp implants hooked into the dog boy, noting his missing eye and scars.
”Has command assigned a replacement for the squadron for when you expire?” Her words did not come off as snide, her tone strangely only seeming curious even though anyone would be able to tell it was not exactly the most sociable question to ask. A single hand raised ahead of her as a holo image of a tube shaped interface appears, emitting a bluish beam from a metallic implant from her wrist. Soft booping sounds resound with each tap of her fingers she appears to be logging some sort of information on the display, a reversed snapshot of Runt appearing on the holo beam next to the text as she performs the entry.
The focused expression on her face, as she coldly entered the data with one hand, the other holding the rose still with the flower petals pointed directly to the floor spoke volumes about this woman. The first being that she seemed to hold a rare degree of literacy that was uncommon in the CS, and the other indicating to all of those gathered that she did indeed have the social graces of a bag of rocks... If that had not already been evident from her initial greeting...
Without breaking eye contact with the kill cat, Runt answers
@Frida in the same low, gravelly voice,
"Twenty years. High Command just recruited me to join an experimental juicer initiative. Do not expect a replacement. If I go down, you have bigger concerns. I'm not some hot blooded pup puffed up on hot air, ma'am. I always survive. And now I have the juicer implants."
As soon as the major enters the room, Runt's eye snaps forward whether or not Checkers reacts similarly. The soldier in Runt trumps the predator every time. He hopes the younger kill cat learns that if he hasn't already.
He drops from attention when ordered and likewise takes a nearby chair even though he would prefer to stand. Runt listens patiently to the orders and is ready to leave immediately. He does stick around after the brief, however. in case his new squadmates have any questions or ideas to air.