( video / action )

[debrief]

[ Once again, Coulson is out in Xanadu with Fury. Right now, he's sitting on a bench, lips quirking into a smile. ]

At least Fury won't be lonely today. [ A beat. ] Those of you who're turned into dogs. How sentient are you?

[ The smile turns a little wry. ] If I get no answer, I'll take that as a 'not at all sentient'.

Comments

[studmuffin]

[ Oh hey, Agent Coulson.

Stiles bounds over because yes, he likes you enough in real life that in puppy form you are his favourite. And Fury seems to know on instinct that Stiles is not some stranger, so.

Oh hey, puppy bonding. ]

[debrief]

[ Well, hello. Fury sniffs and wags his tail a few times before running off. Phil stays on his bench, knowing Fury will come back soon enough.

And looking down at Stiles. ] Are you cursed?

[studmuffin]

[ Bark.

Yes. Yes he is. And he only has Alphole for company so he's just bounding round Fury happily. ]

[debrief]

[ Well. Fury is happy to play with him. And Phil's content to watch. ]

[studmuffin]

[ After rolling around for a bit he ends up coming closer to Coulson, sniffing his foot and figuring out how he smells.

This whole thing is making him understand Scott a bit more. ]

[debrief]

[ Phil doesn't move away, instead bending down to pet the dog. ] Hello there.

[studmuffin]

[ Licking his hand -.

And then sort of looking perplexed as to why he did that. ]

[debrief]

[ That's-- pretty cute, actually. ] So I'm assuming you're not actually a dog.

[studmuffin]

[ Have you ever seen a dog try to shake his head? It's really awkward, so he just whines. ]

[debrief]

I'll take that as a no. And a sign that you understand what I'm saying.

[studmuffin]

[ All these clever people.

Stiles was maybe worried that Derek would be the only one who got it. By cheating and smelling him. ]

[debrief]

Do I know you?

[studmuffin]

[ One bark is totally a yes. ]

[debrief]

[ It totally is. ]

You seem to be fairly young still. Serrure? Stiles, Rapunzel or Roxas? [ With enough time between each name to give him a chance to respond. ]

[studmuffin]

[ He most definitely barks after Stiles, waggling his tail a little harder.

It's not that he wants to be thought of as young, but he's just glad Coulson figured it out. ]

[debrief]

Stiles. Hey. Are you okay, the dog thing aside?

[studmuffin]

[ Barking and wagging his tail in the hopes that Coulson will take it as a positive reaction. ]

[debrief]

I'll take that as a yes.

[studmuffin]

[ Barking happily. ]

[debrief]

And including the dog thing? Still good?

[studmuffin]

[ Another bark.

Oddly, he's enjoying himself. ]

[debrief]

All right then.

Want to play with Fury?

I deleted my puppy icon when re-doing them, so we can pretend, right?

[studmuffin]

[ Yeah! Fury's his bro in human form so why would this be any different. He totally wants to chill out - puppy style. ]

indeed we can

[debrief]

Go on, then.

[studmuffin]

[ Barelling after Fury simply because it seems like the best idea at the time. Stiles wants to play, which he's kind of not examining too closely right now. ]

Permavideo

[doeswhathewants]

Are we supposed to feed them? Can they eat dog food? ... what happens if they need to- ah- ... go. I know humans are very particular about certain bathroom rituals and if our dog is female, would it not be awkward taking them outside to use the tree?

Should we put clothing on them? Mindy is naked as a dog, Mr. Coulson. I can see things.

[debrief]

I'd suggest taking them outside and then turning your back, if you're worried about privacy.

[ A beat. ] And I assume that the fur acts as a substitute for clothing.

[doeswhathewants]

It is a poor substitute for clothing. Poor substitute.

For humans-turned-animals, that is.

[debrief]

Don't look.

[doeswhathewants]

That does make keeping an eye on them difficult. But I shall try.

[debrief]

Don't look too closely, then.

[infernoandhearth]

Sentient enough, though in a different way.

Do you need translations? I can do those for you. If you just wanted to know, then: yes. Sort of.

[debrief]

You speak dog?

[infernoandhearth]

I'm very versatile.

[debrief]

Understanding animals isn't a skill I see advertised very often.

[infernoandhearth]

Then aren't you lucky you've met me.

[debrief]

[ Drily: ] So it would appear.

[infernoandhearth]

So is there a particular reason you were wondering about sentience? Are your friends all dogs today? Feeling left out?

[debrief]

Out of interest. Though a few of them are dogs today.

[infernoandhearth]

Not nearly as interesting a reason as I was hoping. Oh well. You do know, it's fairly difficult to type with paws. Or nose.

[debrief]

If you'd prefer, you're welcome to assume a more interesting reason, but I'm afraid it's really just curiosity.

[infernoandhearth]

No, I'm sure you're telling the truth. It just seems unlikely that without me, you would have gotten much of a response. I mean, a dog might just as well send you a video response by mistake. There's no way to know for sure.

[debrief]

Well, I've managed to play twenty questions with one of them who was in the park, so there is that.

[infernoandhearth]

One bark for yes, two barks for no? That's more useful, yes.

What was the answer?

[debrief]

Seeing how we managed to have some sort of conversation, he was clearly sentient.

[infernoandhearth]

Oh no. I meant the answer to twenty questions.

I expect it was a metaphor, which is a shame.

[debrief]

It wasn't in that I did ask close to twenty questions.