(Untitled)

[whattheytellyou]

[The communicator turns on accidentally, giving viewers a shot of the inside of something's mouth. Sharp teeth, a flat tongue. After a long moment, the communicator tumbles to the ground, and a paw nudges at it. It rolls over, but doesn't turn off again. The image it reveals now is a well-muscled spotted hyena, slender and healthy, with a good coat

Comments

PRETEND THERE'S A HYENA ICON HERE?

[expectremorse]

[Hoffman has been poking at his communicator for hours. Or at least a good hour. It's hard to keep awake. He looks like a distinctly less healthy-far more sleepy hyena complete with chub and patchy fur. He stares down at the communicator, tilting his head to the side]

....Sarah?

[whattheytellyou]

[Her ears prick towards the communicator a moment before she raises her head. She looks at the other hyena without any outward response for a long time.

Finally:]

You have got to be kidding me.

[expectremorse]

[He tilts his head to the side before leaning close] What?

[He yawns] How come you're actually awake if we're the same creature?

[whattheytellyou]

[She makes a grunting noise, as though she's trying to scoff, but has forgotten him.]

I'm not lazy.

And I'm not going to waste the opportunity to learn as much as I can. How many ethologists can say they've been the animal they study?

[She's talking more to herself now.]

This is going to give me such an advantage in my field. When I get home, I'll know more about...bite strength, movement. It isn't behaviorism, but it's definitely better than what my colleagues have.

[expectremorse]

Alright, you know what? I'm fucking sick and tired of-

[Hoffman can actually growl now without looking like a sociopath! He's not aware of it of course, but he exercises the skill.]

Bite strength?

[he tests his own jaws for a moment] This is a trip. I'm starving though. What do we eat?

[whattheytellyou]

[When he growls, she bristles and growls back - cruelly and loudly, baring her teeth. It's purely instinct, without any higher brain function motivating it. She does not like being growled at by Hoffman.]

[expectremorse]

[Hoffman blinks and lowers himself slightly. In the video feed it's the slightest sign of being submissive. He bows his head before looking back at the camera]

....Sorry.

[pause]

....What the fuck was that?

[whattheytellyou]

[She takes a step back from the camera, intelligence coming into her eyes again, and manages, against all odds, to look surprised.

After a moment of thought, she sits back on her haunches.]

I'm the alpha.

[expectremorse]

[Hoffman manages to look about as surprised as someone can look in this situation. Then he sits back himself]

...Alpha. Like-what, with dogs right? That means...you're the boss?

[He idly nibbles on his shoulder as it dawns] You're the boss.

[whattheytellyou]

Great.

[Dismissive, that. Boss of the only other hyena on the ship, who happens to be Hoffman. Just great.]

We eat meat. I suggest the kitchen; I'm not interested in eating one of my colleagues.

[expectremorse]

[Hoffman grins. Or at least he thinks he's grinning. It may just be a threat.] Yes ma'am.

I smell all different kinds of meat that's not in the kitchen. Dog and smaller animal and bird and...and...

[he's drooling] Why can't we go get some of that?

[whattheytellyou]

[Flatly:]

Because those are my colleagues.

[She's been ignoring the smell all day.]

And what's this "we" business? We aren't doing anything. I'm not supposed to be communicating with you.

[expectremorse]

[He looks down at his hyena gut] ...Surprised and running would taste better. And that's instinct, that's not me being a bastard.

[By way of response, he rolls over onto his side.] You're the only other hyena on the boat and my boss.

[whattheytellyou]

[There's a long pause.]

So what?

[expectremorse]

[Hoffman scratches his ear] ...you could control-

[He nips at his shoulder again] You could help-

Shouldn't you have a vested interest in keeping a dangerous predator away from the population?

...Where's your inmate? What'd she turn into?

[whattheytellyou]

You're not my responsibility.

[Said a little too quickly. She just watches him for a moment after that, wondering why it is he keeps scratching. Mange. Fleas. Ugh. Slob.]

You don't need to worry about what Amanda turned into. Or rather, I don't want you trying to eat her.