permastoat

[permastoat]

WELCOME TO STOAT SATURDAY

[permastoat]

Where did it-

"Shit."

It jumps back down off the table, and starts scurrying around the room again. Where had it been when it dropped the bird, where had it-

Ah! On top- why the hell had it been on top of the safe? Whatever, doesn't matter, it climbs back up to grab the bird before hurrying back to the table, dropping it in front of Leshy.

"Got you a snack."

"Huh. What happened to you? Experimenting with the camera..?"

[Permastoat]

“Someone got a hold of my camera, without me noticing... somehow... I don’t know how this happened... It wasn’t supposed to be possible to change my physical appearence any more than just putting me in the card. How do I get out of here...? It’s... indescribably uncomfortable...”

[... He wasn’t taking it, too well... Then again, as far as P03 knew, Leshy had never been the one turned into a card, before, for more than a few seconds.]

[permastoat]

It just glares for a while longer. How stupid would it have to be to run off and not come back after having a pleasant day together, finally, for the crime of Leshy slipping in the mud? It felt... ignored. Disregarded.

It wanted to bite him so badly.

"Well, next time you get scared and can't think, if you're somewhere safe just stay put. Its exhausting to have to hunt you down to make sure you're not doing something stupid."

Something self destructive.

"Huh. What happened to you? Experimenting with the camera..?"

[Permastoat]

“Someone got a hold of my camera, without me noticing... somehow... I don’t know how this happened... It wasn’t supposed to be possible to change my physical appearence any more than just putting me in the card. How do I get out of here...? It’s... indescribably uncomfortable...”

[... He wasn’t taking it, too well... Then again, as far as P03 knew, Leshy had never been the one turned into a card, before, for more than a few seconds.]

[permastoat]

It's immediately doing its best to dry him again, cleaning him carefully while bracing him with its paws, as if it could actually hold him still. Even if he had been partially sheltered from the rain, being out in this downpour must have him freezing.

"I've been coming back this whole time. Why would it be any different now."

Well, that's most of the water out of his fur. Again. It moves to stand in front of him and gently presses its forehead against his.

"Look- I don't... know what you need. I don't know what's wrong with you. But you trapped me like this, and as long as I'm stuck with you, you have to try to find better ways to handle this. Don't make me chase you down every other day just to keep you alive."

It's still trying to sound angry, and doing its very best to glare at him, pretending he won't notice the droplets at the corners of its eyes.

"Huh. What happened to you? Experimenting with the camera..?"

[Permastoat]

“Someone got a hold of my camera, without me noticing... somehow... I don’t know how this happened... It wasn’t supposed to be possible to change my physical appearence any more than just putting me in the card. How do I get out of here...? It’s... indescribably uncomfortable...”

[... He wasn’t taking it, too well... Then again, as far as P03 knew, Leshy had never been the one turned into a card, before, for more than a few seconds.]

[permastoat]

Was that-? It could be literally anything, but it rushes outside to check, and- there he is. It feels a weight drop off it, but it visibly relaxes for only a split second before it's tensed up again, and barking at him.

"You idiot! Get back in the house, if you're worried about getting sick, what are you doing out here?!"

Now it's tugging on his front leg, being careful not to actually bite him and having only a mouthful of fur.

"Go back inside. I was hunting. Why wouldn't I come back?"

It still didn't know how to make his nightmares stop, but once it could get him back in the cabin, it would rub up against his side again and try to get him back to the blanket, the bird it had left to get in the first place now forgotten.

"Look, just- stop stressing over everything. You're fine. I'm fine. There's nothing that needs worried about."

"Huh. What happened to you? Experimenting with the camera..?"

[Permastoat]

“Someone got a hold of my camera, without me noticing... somehow... I don’t know how this happened... It wasn’t supposed to be possible to change my physical appearence any more than just putting me in the card. How do I get out of here...? It’s... indescribably uncomfortable...”

[... He wasn’t taking it, too well... Then again, as far as P03 knew, Leshy had never been the one turned into a card, before, for more than a few seconds.]

[permastoat]

It wasn't super long before p03 returned, and as soon as it steps into the cabin it shakes violently to get as much water out of its fur as possible. Jumping back onto the table, it-

Fuck.

"Lllshgh?"

Where did he go.

Damn it.

It jumps back down, and hurries around the room, checking everywhere it can think- where had he gone?

It drops the bird it was carrying, and calls out again.

"Leshy?!"

Damn it, why did it leave him alone again? Of course he'd run off, and- probably do something stupid. Damn it, damn it-

"Leshy!"

"Huh. What happened to you? Experimenting with the camera..?"

[Permastoat]

“Someone got a hold of my camera, without me noticing... somehow... I don’t know how this happened... It wasn’t supposed to be possible to change my physical appearence any more than just putting me in the card. How do I get out of here...? It’s... indescribably uncomfortable...”

[... He wasn’t taking it, too well... Then again, as far as P03 knew, Leshy had never been the one turned into a card, before, for more than a few seconds.]

[permastoat]

It grunts again, frustrated with his response. It shouldn't let itself be this bothered, but it wasn't backing out now. It was too late to turn back and undo the earlier part of this day, so it'd have to just stubbornly push forward.

"Hey, are you-"

Ah, he'd just fallen asleep. That... at least somewhat settled its nerves, thinking he had underestimated his injury, or at the very least was giving it the silent treatment.

It would stand, now, and crawl out from underneath the blanket, tucking it carefully back around him. If he was going to do fuckall for his own health, then he was forcing the stoat to step in and take over. Let's see, what would he need...? Perhaps something to eat would be a start. It scurries off to look, glancing back at Leshy one last time before it darts back out into the awful rain.

"Huh. What happened to you? Experimenting with the camera..?"

[Permastoat]

“Someone got a hold of my camera, without me noticing... somehow... I don’t know how this happened... It wasn’t supposed to be possible to change my physical appearence any more than just putting me in the card. How do I get out of here...? It’s... indescribably uncomfortable...”

[... He wasn’t taking it, too well... Then again, as far as P03 knew, Leshy had never been the one turned into a card, before, for more than a few seconds.]

[permastoat]

It snorted. "How's that fair? I don't think you get to decide if you were wrong or not."

"Wasn't wrong." Did everything it had been trying to do, swallowing its pride to help the man who had caused it so much suffering, mean nothing to him? It was cuddling him, god's sake. What did he want from it?

"Is it too much to ask for you to at least try not to let yourself fall apart?"

Until then, it'd keep masking its sadness and caring with anger. What else was it supposed to do?

"Huh. What happened to you? Experimenting with the camera..?"

[Permastoat]

“Someone got a hold of my camera, without me noticing... somehow... I don’t know how this happened... It wasn’t supposed to be possible to change my physical appearence any more than just putting me in the card. How do I get out of here...? It’s... indescribably uncomfortable...”

[... He wasn’t taking it, too well... Then again, as far as P03 knew, Leshy had never been the one turned into a card, before, for more than a few seconds.]

[permastoat]

"Hmph." It grunts, not being able to help but feel bitter.

"How do you think being trapped in the paper of a card, repeatedly bit and scratched by other beasts with nothing to do but brace yourself, and sacrificed at a whim felt?"

Even with having made a lot of progress in mending their relationship- hell, they were looking after each other and trying to comfort and care for one another -it still couldn't help but to hold a grudge. Whether or not it liked the game, being forced to be a piece in it with no control was extremely painful, especially with it just being for Leshy's amusement. It was like he just kept it around, instead of locking it away like the others, because its suffering was funny to him or something.

Not to mention the fact that the whole time, its corpse was just unceremoniously dumped in the corner of the other room. Some treatment for someone who used to matter to you...

"Look, if something happens, we'll deal with it then. Just try not to get hurt, and don't panic about maybe getting hurt later."

"Besides, all you used that 'resilience' for was an excuse to let your health go to shit. Do you already not remember how bad you were doing a week ago?"

"Huh. What happened to you? Experimenting with the camera..?"

[Permastoat]

“Someone got a hold of my camera, without me noticing... somehow... I don’t know how this happened... It wasn’t supposed to be possible to change my physical appearence any more than just putting me in the card. How do I get out of here...? It’s... indescribably uncomfortable...”

[... He wasn’t taking it, too well... Then again, as far as P03 knew, Leshy had never been the one turned into a card, before, for more than a few seconds.]

[permastoat]

"Worried about what?"

If he's fine, then he's definitely just stressing. Probably.

It settles back down, shifting back and forth slightly to get more comfortable as it loafs beside him.

"You're not gonna die. And if you do you'll just go back in your card. I think."

To be fair, it hadn't died outside of its card before, but it had died in its card probably a thousand times and it was fine, so it was... probably a safe assumption?

"Huh. What happened to you? Experimenting with the camera..?"

[Permastoat]

“Someone got a hold of my camera, without me noticing... somehow... I don’t know how this happened... It wasn’t supposed to be possible to change my physical appearence any more than just putting me in the card. How do I get out of here...? It’s... indescribably uncomfortable...”

[... He wasn’t taking it, too well... Then again, as far as P03 knew, Leshy had never been the one turned into a card, before, for more than a few seconds.]

[permastoat]

He really looked like he was spacing out, and being right after he had knocked the wind out of himself, p03 wasn't sure this was a good sign.

"Hey, hey-"

Without getting up from its place huddled beside him, it reaches and baps his shoulder with one paw.

"You didn't break anything, did you?"

There's the obvious chance that he's just stressing again, but if he'd hurt himself bad enough to tear up, it couldn't hurt to assume the worst.

"You look like shit."

"Huh. What happened to you? Experimenting with the camera..?"

[Permastoat]

“Someone got a hold of my camera, without me noticing... somehow... I don’t know how this happened... It wasn’t supposed to be possible to change my physical appearence any more than just putting me in the card. How do I get out of here...? It’s... indescribably uncomfortable...”

[... He wasn’t taking it, too well... Then again, as far as P03 knew, Leshy had never been the one turned into a card, before, for more than a few seconds.]

[permastoat]

"Don't be so stupid next time."

Its tone is grumpy, but it stays huddled up beside him, grooming a bit of the fur on his side; doing its best to get some of the water out.

Ugh. It was still frustrating how protective it felt over him again already. Being an animal is so stupid.

Still, it would do its best to keep up its angry facade and keep acting like it's only tolerating him, even as it nuzzles the side of his head and pulls as much water out of his fur as it can.

"Huh. What happened to you? Experimenting with the camera..?"

[Permastoat]

“Someone got a hold of my camera, without me noticing... somehow... I don’t know how this happened... It wasn’t supposed to be possible to change my physical appearence any more than just putting me in the card. How do I get out of here...? It’s... indescribably uncomfortable...”

[... He wasn’t taking it, too well... Then again, as far as P03 knew, Leshy had never been the one turned into a card, before, for more than a few seconds.]

[permastoat]

[permastoat]

It stays pressed up against his side for the remainder of the walk, doing its best to keep him steady. When he separates to step away, it whines again, watching with concern as it lifts one paw, ready to run to try to catch him if he should fall again.

It follows him up to the table, and noticing him shivering, hurries back to his hammock and grabs a blanket in its mouth, dragging it off and slowly lugging it toward the table. Dragging it onto the table proves to be rather difficult, but it manages by pulling it into the chair first. Once a good portion of it is on the table, he quickly pulls it over to the chital, covering him with it before turning around and ducking under it beside him.

It stands for a moment to lick at his teary eyelids, bump its face against his, then lays back down against his side.

"Huh. What happened to you? Experimenting with the camera..?"

[Permastoat]

“Someone got a hold of my camera, without me noticing... somehow... I don’t know how this happened... It wasn’t supposed to be possible to change my physical appearence any more than just putting me in the card. How do I get out of here...? It’s... indescribably uncomfortable...”

[... He wasn’t taking it, too well... Then again, as far as P03 knew, Leshy had never been the one turned into a card, before, for more than a few seconds.]

[permastoat]

At his tumble, the stoat's fur stands on end, every joint in its body tense for a moment before it dashes back to his side, now ignoring the rain pounding down upon them.

"Are you okay? Leshy?"

It wedges itself up under his shoulder, trying to somehow lift him up despite it's small size.

Fuck, why'd it have to get impatient? Now it just felt guilty for rushing him in the slick mud.

"Come on, get up..."

"Huh. What happened to you? Experimenting with the camera..?"

[Permastoat]

“Someone got a hold of my camera, without me noticing... somehow... I don’t know how this happened... It wasn’t supposed to be possible to change my physical appearence any more than just putting me in the card. How do I get out of here...? It’s... indescribably uncomfortable...”

[... He wasn’t taking it, too well... Then again, as far as P03 knew, Leshy had never been the one turned into a card, before, for more than a few seconds.]

[permastoat]

It starts to bound off again once his following confirms they were headed in the right direction, before turning back and seeing it was leaving him behind. Ah... it hurries back to his side and slows to keep pace with him.

A drop of water hits it right between the eyes, and it flinches- both from being startled, and from dislike of rain.

"Fuck, already?"

It dashes off ahead to duck under a bush, and stands there looking back at Leshy, whining while it waits for him to catch up. It shouldn't be much further, right? It can see the cabin, it'll be fine?

"Huh. What happened to you? Experimenting with the camera..?"

[Permastoat]

“Someone got a hold of my camera, without me noticing... somehow... I don’t know how this happened... It wasn’t supposed to be possible to change my physical appearence any more than just putting me in the card. How do I get out of here...? It’s... indescribably uncomfortable...”

[... He wasn’t taking it, too well... Then again, as far as P03 knew, Leshy had never been the one turned into a card, before, for more than a few seconds.]

[permastoat]

He huffs, searching the room for the flowers he remembered. Even if it's a thin stem, it's no shears or scissors even. Not like he even has hands to hold the stems still while he plucks them. But, he doesn't want to sit still and feel useless.

"Oh, so it's fine for you to call people stupid unprompted. Neat."

permastoat​:

Ugh, what was it with everyone and thinking it can do just anything with its claws? These are sharper, sturdier nails, not precision tools.

“These are for rending flesh, not neatly trimming plant stems! It’ll only make a mess of it all.”

…It hadn’t thought about poisonous plants. That is a good point for not biting them.

“…I can try, but it’ll probably just ruin them and be a waste.”

What use did it have for flowers? Besides, it was half living here, it could see them if it wanted to for whatever reason easily enough. It did glance around briefly, only reinforcing what it’d already known, that it didn’t care to have any flowers itself, and just wanted to get this message sent and over with.

“If you have issues, then I can trim them myself. But the thinner stems should be easy.” They pull a blade from their pocket. “I have to trim some other plants while I’m here, so just… Don’t do anything terribly stupid, alright?”