Video; UN: FINN

[hatejakku]

[ The video almost looks like the position a security camera might take, looking down at Finn's living room from a corner. For those that's been to his flat, they might remember a bookshelf is there. Anyway, the place is destroyed.

The couch is ripped apart, tables are broken, books are everywhere, a plant looks to have been torn from the pot and dragged through the white carpet, it's just bad.

The camera pans over towards the hallway where some big brown and black bird comes waddling into the room on webbed feet, head casually scanning on top of its long neck. ]

Can anyone tell me what this thing is. [ Oh, that's Finn's voice. He's whispering and, though he's not in view, sprawled on top of the bookcase. ] I found some shop and this guy told me that animals popped out of some sphere and I bought it because I wanted to see what it actually did and this thing-

[ The goose waddles over to the open wall closet, tugging on something inside until a jacket pulls free of a hanger, then proceeds to drag it through the dirt for no reason.

Finn speaks up. ] Why? You don't think you've done enou- [ The goose stops, flaps its impressive wingspan and hisses at him before folding its wings back and continues about its business.

After a beat- ] I didn't like that one anyway!

[ The goose stops again and looks at him, apparently annoyed now. It flaps its wings, lowers its neck parallel to the ground, and starts running- The camera shakes- ] No, no, no, no-! [ And the video ends. ]

Comments

[hatejakku]

[ The goose eyeballs the basket, craning its neck to try and see inside, but quickly gets distracted with the nearby apple. It pecks at it, then swipes it from Jim and lets it roll on the floor before eating away at it. ]

How are you doing this?

[ Finn's busy losing his mind right now but he can't really blame anything for liking James that much. Though, to be fair, Finn had attempted to fight back with a broom at one point, so they never really started out on good footing.

Anyway, he wants to climb off the shelf, but he doesn't want to set the bomb off, so to speak. Not with Jim between them. ]

[winscenario]

Very calmly?

[ He gives Finn a quick glance over his shoulder, smiling at him. He takes the opportunity to wave at him, since they haven't even greeted each other properly yet. In the meantime, the goose seems happy enough with his treat, and Jim relaxes, not yet pulling out the toy. ]

You should climb back down. Come on, just don't freak out and he won't hurt you.

[hatejakku]

[ Finn's too busy panicking about James looking away from the enemy to wave back, but the goose honestly seems to be too concerned with its apple. It seems relaxed.

He hums to himself, not sure about this plan but having no better ideas (this is his best chance to get off of this thing), so he slowly climbs down, moving deliberately, thankful for such sturdy furniture built into the wall.

When he quietly touches the floor, the goose looks up from its apple and stares at Finn. Neither move.

Don't freak out. Right. Yes. He can do that. Didn't Don say they had teeth? ]

[winscenario]

[ He sees the gooze freezing in its spot, staring at Finn intently. Jim immediately acts. ]

Hey, hey! Look at me, [ He urges the animal, lifting a hand and snapping his fingers, getting the goose's attention. ] Yeah. Go back to your apple now, come on.

[ Waving his hand towards the apple, he reaches behind him so Finn will take his other hand, while murmuring over his shoulder, ] Sit down next to me. It's fine.

[hatejakku]

[ The goose looks unimpressed with Jim's attempt at distraction, to be honest, but it goes back to the apple, anyway. Sort of. It's eating slower, staring at Finn.

Meanwhile, Finn's still frozen in place and trying to convince himself that sitting down is a good idea. It doesn't really seem like a good idea, if he's honest. BUT! He trusts James. And being closer to him in case the goose goes feral again is definitely a good idea.

So he inches closer, the goose slowing down its bites with every inch, and eventually Finn sits. He's tense, watching the enemy's every move, and still has the darksaber's hilt in his hand just in case.

And because it needs to be said- ] You're amazing.

[winscenario]

[ It's a goose, it's going to look unimpressed with just about everything. But hey, it works, so can't argue with the results.

He huffs a chuckle, squeezing Finn's hand. ] What, because of one goose? Told you, I grew up on a farm. We had a bunch of these waddling around. I had more fun giving them hell than trying to befriend them, though.

[ He glances at Finn's saber, quirking an eyebrow up at him. ] What are you doing? You're not chopping him up.

[hatejakku]

[ Wait, James went out of his way to agitate geese? Why? To what end? What type of revenge did they seek? Does this mean Jim knows the best ways to fight back?

Oh, he gets distracted by the hand on his. ]

It might attack you. I don't know what these things can do. [ He drops the saber, anyway. Not far away but it's not in his hand. ]

[winscenario]

[ Because yes? Because he was a little shit and he liked getting himself into trouble. Go figure. ]

I have my phaser, if it does. I'll stun it if I have to, but you're not killing the poor thing.

[ He pushes the bag towards Finn. ] Go on. Get some treats out and offer them.

[hatejakku]

[ The poor thing. Finn glances at Jim then the state of his apartment. Look, he's not totally sure that darksaber is enough to stop this thing, okay? He's reasonably sure but-

He looks down at the bag, worried, but sighs. ] Yeah, okay.

[ Finn stretches his hand out, wiggling every finger, before digging out a treat and clearing his throat. The goose stops eating long enough to look as Finn holds out his hand silently. He's terrified but he knows better than to start freaking out.

The goose steps forward, slowly, deliberately, before taking a treat from his hand, eating it, taking another, all while staring at him. Finn thinks its angry, he isn't sure. He also isn't breathing. ]

[winscenario]

[ It's an animal, okay! Yeah, it's probably being kind of a jerk but it's also possible that it's just scared and confused, and Finn hitting it with a broom or threatening to cut it with a laser sword probably hasn't helped much.

Jim sits still while watching Finn interact with the goose. It looks wary, but not threatening, so that's good. He waits until the goose takes a few treats to finally coo a little, smiling wide. ]

Aw, look at you two, making friends. See, it's not some kind of monster. Are you, boy?

[ He tilts his head a little, offering the goose a treat of his own once Finn is done, hoping that'll be enough for it to let Jim reach out to touch its feathers. ] Actually, is it a boy? We should probably try and figure that out.

[hatejakku]

How... do we figure that out? [ Can't just peek under the hood, right?

Actually, that's pretty low on the list of Finn's list of worries right now. He shakes his head. ]

James?... I don't know what to do with them. Is-... Did I just buy a pet?

[ This is not the kitten he pictured. ]

[winscenario]

I have... absolutely no idea. I guess we'll have to look into that.

[ Because it doesn't look like the goose is going anywhere now. It's claimed Finn's place as its own, now it all boils down to whether or not they can both learn to coexist. ]

Yeah, Finn. I think you just bought a pet. [ He gives Finn a sympathetic look, while pressing his lips in and trying not to laugh. ] Sorry.

[hatejakku]

[ He knows you want to laugh, Jim. He knows. ]

This... isn't so bad. [ He glances around the room, knowing damn well that it's pretty bad. ] We just got off on the wrong foot. We can do this. I can do this.

[ The goose is staring daggers at him while slowly munching on the treats out of Finn's very still hand. This is fine. ]

[winscenario]

Sure you can, [ Jim says, far too cheerful despite the threatening look the goose keeps throwing at Finn. He's in a good enough position to serve as a shield between the two anyway.

Besides, once he starts lightly smoothing his fingertips down the animal's feathers, it does seem to calm down. Only slightly, but still. ]

Geese aren't that bad. They're kind of... uh, temperamental, I guess. But they're very protective, once they're bonded to another animal. It's just a matter of... patience. Work on that bond between you two.

[ He tips his head towards the couch. ] I mean, you might yet lose more of your furniture in the process, I'm sorry to tell you.

[hatejakku]

[ Right. Sure he can. ] Work on the bond. Yeah. [ There's probably a bond there, right? One that's not full of murderous intent?

But at least Finn lightly smiles once the goose is done eating out of his hand and starts preening for James. ] Lucky for me, I managed to save up a lot of Chroma some mysterious way.

[winscenario]

[ Jim chuckles, pulling his hand from the goose briefly to turn a little towards Finn, leaning in to claim a quick kiss. ]

Mm, yes, I wonder how...

[hatejakku]

[ Finn only barely gets the chance to kiss back before the goose HONKS between them. He jerks away, looking down and-... Oh no. ]

What? You can have the couch. I get this.

[ HONK ]

[winscenario]

[ Jim pulls back with a little 'oh', laughing at the goose's protests. Well, at least it's not attacking Finn, but... ]

Oh no, I think he's being protective. Maybe just a little jealous.

[ He turns to Finn again, though, kissing him anyway. Sorry goose, but you can't take this from him!! ]

[hatejakku]

[ Finn gets his hands around Jim's neck this time. Sorry but it's less about the kiss and more drawing the line at this point, despite how he does try to make it a good kiss.

But the goose redoubles its efforts, too, wiggling in between them and climbing into James' lap.

At least they know which one of them its protective of... ]

[winscenario]

[ Jim does try to keep the kiss going, clinging to Finn's shirt while they kiss, but the weight settling on his lap, and the little shifting around as he feels a long neck snaking up so a beak rests all too comfortably on his shoulder, makes him break the contact with a snort and a laugh, a hand moving up to cover his own mouth. ]

I'm-- sorry, [ He laughs again, shaking his head while running the fingers of his other hand over the goose's feathers. ] This is just ridiculous, sorry. You need to-- ah, befriend it, or whatever. I don't think it's gonna let us even kiss until then, let alone cuddle or have sex.

[hatejakku]

[ It is pretty funny, and Finn's lip twitches into a smile even though he knows it'll be a lot less funny in a matter of days. ]

I'm just glad it likes you. [ He would try to pet the goose but doesn't think it's a good idea with James in the line of fire. Besides, if a goose could look smug, it's doing it right now. ] Thanks for the incentive, though. I'll figure this out.

You're right, though. I think I'm stuck with him.

[ The goose just wiggles a little, settling its wings, getting comfortable. ]

[winscenario]

I guess that's a good thing, yes.

[ He smiles a little, petting the animal. It's actually kind of nice, if he's to be honest. Well, if he doesn't focus much on the wrecked couch and the destroyed living room. ]

I think you might be. Stuck with him, and with me. [ He holds Finn's hand, since it's looking like that's the most they'll be able to get away with for now. ] I do think it's a male, though, for what it's worth. I remember females being a lot shier than this. But we'll have to find someone who can double check. And then you need to think of a name.

[hatejakku]

[ He ducks his head in no small amount of bashfulness about being stuck with James. It's quickly glossed over, though, even if he does squeeze his hand and let it pass by.

Finn considers asking the man that sold him the sphere in the first place, but then- ]

A name? [ Oh. Right. That had been a whole thing when Pancake clawed into his life. Dammit. He looks at the goose. ] You think it'd even like a name from me?

[winscenario]

Of course it will. It has to. And you'll see, it'll help you two bond.

[ Maybe more literally than Jim might think. Either way, he does believe that it will help. It'll help Finn feel so reticent towards the animal, at least, which is a start. ]

And then maybe we can try and get you a new couch, [ He says with a laugh, glancing over at the wrecked mess the goose has made. ]

[hatejakku]

Yeah... [ He looks at his old couch with a wince, wondering if leather could hold up to the goose or if that's just going to be a more expensive mess. ]

Names are pretty important. Is there some way people usually name geese? Some... tradition or something? [ Finn squints and, against better judgement, leans in to the animal. For what it's worth, the goose is pretty chill from its new place. ]

What do you want to be called? [ HONK ] ... Is that a name?

[ Sorry, Jim. This is the conversation for the next... oh, three days, at least. ]