028 - 4th wall

[tapestodiane]

[Suddenly, on a video feed near you for no reason whatsoever, a llama.]

[A llama with a crush on our special agent.]



[OTP.]

[Also, talk about deja vu.]


(As per usual, action absolutely anywhere, with or without llamas! GO WILD. I want all of you!)

Comments

[tapestodiane]

Owls.

<sub>[It's simple, but significant. Albert might not have much faith in what comes to Cooper in his visions, and he might not be aware of how important owls in particular seem to be, but even if he only remembers the phrase (not what they seem) he'd know about Cooper's aversion to birds.]

[It's too personal, too specific to be a coincidence.]

[And it's with a grim state of mind he recalls Windom's owl, too. Nasty-looking thing, yet familiar just because of what it was.]</sub>

[happygeneration]

The woods are full of them.

[Another observation, clinical and objective. He knows Coop's issues with birds and isn't trying to exacerbate them; it's more an acknowledgement that, for a man so aversive to them, this isn't exactly the best of places.

The Poochyena, on the other hand? She appears to know that word, owls, and takes off snarling through the woods.]

Damn it. Something's gotten into her.

[He is not yelling her name across the forest, okay. Not a chance.]

[tapestodiane]

<sub>[Cooper looks after her with a frown. He'd acknowledged Albert's observation and, perhaps, the nonverbal implication of it, but whatever he'd been meaning to say in response is put in the back of his mind when he watches the Dark-type. They could lose her, he thinks distantly.]

[Something is happening, is what seems more pressing.]</sub>

Then maybe we should follow.

_{[He says it like a mild suggestion, but he's already on her trail. Not running, just following.]}

[happygeneration]

[Well, it's not like he's about to split off from Coop now, even if he did have somewhere else to go or any idea what to really do about Johto in the first place.

The Poochyena is moving fast, and for a minute or two she's far enough ahead that she's out of line of sight, but she's going in a straight line and it's not difficult to catch up.

And when they do, they will find her camped out in a small clearing opposite a wild Hoothoot, who is launching attack after attack at her — and strangely, she isn't responding with a single one of her own, opting instead to stand there and take it with the occasional grunt and whimper.

But then, at some point, something seems to click and she makes her move, bounding forward and pouncing on it, then carefully picks it up in her jaws and trots over with it — unharmed but subdued — to display proudly to her master and his friend.]

[tapestodiane]

<sub>[Cooper stands still when he watches the scene with a feeling of calm. Calm and trust, specifically, towards the Poochyena. He doesn't like seeing her harmed but he's convinced she knows exactly what she's doing - and thus when she leaps at it and traps it, he's not surprised.]

[He's solemn, though, when he steps aside. Not because he's scared of the Hoothoot in her mouth so much as out of respect, and consideration. And thoughts. Because there'd something profound about that display, and something had happened, and he was mulling it over even as he was watching the pair; his friend and his companion.]

[The owls are not what they seem. But maybe whatever they are can be fought with peace.]</sub>

[happygeneration]

[Albert makes no move to take the Hoothoot from her, either, which sort of perplexes her because look, don't they see that she caught one of the owls? It's like they were talking about and she caught one! Right here! Owl!

And of course, Albert wants nothing to do with it, so it's not like he's going to catch it for his roster, either.]

Great. Looks like she's a bird dog.

[His humor is the driest.]

[tapestodiane]

Albert.

_{[Said sternly, paired with a disapproving scowl. Praise and encouragement is important in raising anything, and clearly his dog is just trying to please him. Come on, Albert. Show her some love, or at least explain why you're not.]}

[happygeneration]

[Oh, fine. But only on your word, Coop. He bends down a little to regard her.]

Drop it.

[And miraculously, she does, pinning it once again between her forepaws as she hopefully looks up at Albert for any praise he might offer.

Obligingly, following a grudging glance at Coop, he gives her a pat on the head and a scratch behind the ears.]

Attagirl, Gandhina.

[PREEMPTIVE SHUT UP, COOP.]

[tapestodiane]

<sub>[OH MY GOD Albert named his dog after Gandhi.]

[c:]

[c: c: c:]

[Cooper doesn't say anything, at first, he just watches them like he's incredibly pleased with this turn of events. And really, he is. For a moment, he just smiles, a knowing smile like he's been let in on something, thoughts of Windom and evil and owls momentarily forgotten.]

[And then he just says, quite simply - but not without a fond amusement to his tone -]</sub>

Albert, I think the two of you will make a great team.