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Reality Fault

Realms: Tamashii Logs

Breakfast

    The DNAnimals Commons Area -- This is a room with smooth walls in light colors, containing a largish, round table near a small kitchenette of sorts off to one side. To the other side there is a large open area with a variety of patterned markings on the floor; obviously demarcations for various sports. Several doors open from this area; sleeping quarters, it would appear. One of the doors is leaning against the wall next to the opening it formerly guarded, along with a few bits of furniture.

It is early in the morning, the day after the first meeting of the team, when Chet emerges from the quarters he'd picked out. He is headed toward the kitchen to see what's available for breakfast when he notes the missing door and heads in that direction to see what's what. I know the rooms were all intact yesterday...

Njozi'joshi yawns hugely as she wakes, her tongue curling up between her curving lower fangs. After that small satisfaction, she glances around relaxedly, her tail flicking lazily once. She's in her room, yes... it smells right, good, and there's Kamui, also good... and she can hear and/or scent the rest of the group, excellent. She absently licks the back of her hand, using it to brush back the fur around her face and ears, then gives Kamui a few swipes of her tongue as well as she considers getting up.

Kamui doesn't move, but being so close to him, Njozi'joshi can feel him wake up; it takes only a moment to go from perfectly slack to the tension of wakefulness. He opens his eyes and takes a deep breath, reorienting himself. He doesn't object to the licking; he knows he needs to adapt himself to his commander's way of doing things... and it's not entirely unpleasant. Njozi'joshi nudges Kamui gently with her nose, rumbling, "Morning..." then looks up, her ears tilting forwards as she hears Chet walking their way.

Chet sniffs, trying to isolate the scents... but the common area is already strongly scented with all of the team members' personal odors and he finds it impossible to tell who is in the open bedroom, if anyone. When the lioness speaks, however, it's obvious who is in there. "Good morning, Njozi'joshi. I see you believe in an open door policy..." His remark trails off as he realizes that she's not alone.

Kamui mms quietly, "Good morning, shousei..." He sits up on his elbow, looking to the open door, and regards the cacomistle impassively.

Chet coughs, carefully concealing any reaction to this turn of events as he stands just outside the door of the room. "Good morning, Kamui."

Njozi'joshi quietly watches Chet standing at the door for a moment, then nods once from where she's relaxedly curled up around the smaller ferret, "Good morning, Chet. You may enter if you wish." A moment later she adds, "I dislike doors."

Kamui nods once, slowly. "Good morning, Doctor."

Chet blinks, then grins at the lioness. "So I see. No, I was actually going to see about breakfast, and noticed that it was off its hinges. I see you don't care much for beds that are too small, either."

Njozi'joshi nods once, letting her head rest back on her arm, still quietly watching the cacomistle. "I prefer being able to curl up with my pride, yes. Don't you?"

Chet thinks about that. "I don't know, actually. I never had anyone to curl up with. I don't see why not, though." He shrugs. "Never occurred to me, actually. I think my ancestral type is more solitary than yours."

Njozi'joshi yawns lazily again, then stretches slowly, pointing her clawed toes and careful not to push Kamui at all. Once she's done she smiles ruefully, "That is rather the problem our handlers have appeared to have... they do not think of things like that, I fear. Witness these tiny little boxes they expect us to live in." She murmurs in reply to Chet's comment, "Pity." Kamui doesn't speak; just remains quiet and stretched out at length, watching the cacomistle. His tail flicks to curl over his ankle.

Chet says, "Live and learn. I don't mind sleeping in a little box, but you're right... there's nothing to climb here. They're a bit too... two-dimensional in their living arrangements."

Njozi'joshi makes a small rumble of agreement, then murmurs to the ferret, "You hungry?"

Kamui says, "Ah. Yes, actually... now seems as good a time as any for breakfast."

Chet grins and leans in, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I've heard rumors that some of the design teams were working with chiropteran genes. Can you imagine a bat trying to live in these flat little boxes?"

Njozi'joshi chuckles softly, "That would be foolish. Bats are too flighty."

Kamui mms. "Bouncing off the walls, most likely. They would need some sort of aerie."

One of the doors across the commons area swings open. Humming to himself, the rat seems to be polishing his teeth something fierce, dressed simply in his lab coat, the lowest three buttoned, and a pair of shoes. He almost makes a B-line toward the kitchenette, grumbling as he bangs open a cabinet. Chet looks up at the noise. "I see Hazmat is up. Let's see what's in the kitchen, shall we?"

Njozi'joshi rolls smoothly to her feet and smiles down at the ferret, "Thank you, Kamui. That was far more relaxing than I usually sleep." Her ears flick at the sudden loud noise, and she murmurs quietly, "Hazmat is up, I see." She casually pulls on a shirt and buttons it as she heads out the door, with a quiet, "Excuse me," to Chet.

Chet stands aside for the lioness and falls in a pace behind and to her left. "Nichyevo."

Kamui sighs quietly at the sound. "So it would seem. You are most welcome, shousei." He doesn't sit up so much as kick up to his feet and pull on his boxers. He rolls his shoulders. "Excuse me, Doctor. I should be seeing to my own affairs now as well."

Hazmat is already filling a cup with water and washing his mouth out in the sink, giving his teeth another vigorous brushing before washing it off as well. The rat generally has to keep his teeth Very clean, else he'd be gumming things. He glances over, spotting the lioness and ringtail. "Do we have eggs?"

Chet snorts. "I haven't laid any recently. Have you checked the fridge?"

Njozi'joshi finishes buttoning her shirt, her tail switching lazily behind her, and glances down at the doctor, "Translate, please?"

Chet looks up at the lioness absently. "Hmm? Oh, nichyevo? Russki. Means... don't worry, or no problem."

Hazmat snorts, dumping the water out and setting the glass on the counter. "Really? Pity. And here I was hoping for fowl tonight, too. Da." He moves to the fridge and pulls it open, inspecting.

Njozi'joshi nods again, then peers into the refrigerator over Hazmat's shoulder. "Such a short room... ah, eggs. Bring them all out, please, Hazmat."

Kamui pads quietly out to the practice area. He doesn't bother heading back to his room to dress; rather, pausing at the edge of the ring, he turns a handstand. Carefully, tilting each of his legs and then his tail just so, he slowly moves his left arm behind his back. So balanced on one hand, he very slowly starts to lower himself, until he can touch his nose to the floor, "...ichi!" So doing, he extends his arm again, for another go, "...ni!"

Hazmat mms, spotting the dozen hidden behind a bottle of some protein drink mixture. "Good!" Removing the container, as well as a tub of butter, "Do you have any preferences? French toast? Scrambled? I'd offer sandwiches, but I'm not sure we have peanut butter."

Chet mms at the idea of eggs. "Just one for me. Is there..." He peers over the rat's shoulder into the icebox. "Yes. Just one, stirred into a glass of tomato juice, please."

"...san!...shi!...go! ...rrgh... roku!"

Njozi'joshi glances over her shoulder at Kamui... then blinks and really looks. A moment later a small smile crosses her lips. She watches for a bit, still smiling, then looks back at Hazmat, "Ah? Scrambled, please, all dozen. I'll pull out the rest of the eggs for everyone else." She delicately opens the little refrigerator again, and crouches so she can see more easily. A moment later she pushes a few things to the side and brings out another flat of eggs, "Here we go. I'm going to assume that Kamui will also be hungry."

Hazmat blinks, turning to Njozi'joshi. "Chief, you're eating the whole doze-" He stops, mid sentence, and just... gawks at Kamui. "I have a feeling he'll be having the protein solution." Njozi'joshi quietly smiles again, this time at Hazmat, and reaches over the gawking rat to gently place the eggs on the counter next to the first dozen.

"...shichi! ...hachi! There is... kyuu! ...a canister of... jyuu! ...jyuuichi! High-calorie... jyuuni! Formula... jyuusan! In there for... jyuuyon! For me... jyuugo!"

Chet nips in behind the lioness to pull the bottle of tomato juice out of the refrigerator, then nabs an egg before anyone can start cooking them all. "Now... if we have some glassware somewhere?" Njozi'joshi casually, without looking, opens an upper cabinet door for Chet's requested glassware, then decides she might as well do her exercises as well if Hazmat's going to be kind enough to cook. She paces silently over to the open area, and starts stretching out someplace where her size won't get in anyone's way.

Hazmat seems to snap out of it before nodding to the lioness. "Yes, of course. Y'know, perhaps the fridge isn't small...you're just big?" The rodent offers a grin before scavenging through the cabinets, extracting a frying pan. Already Hazmat's working, turning the oven on, and greasing the pan, tail curling lightly behind him. "So, I take it everyone has situated? The rooms are a little large... But I pushed the furniture closer to the bed. A nice, closer space."

Njozi'joshi smiles quietly at the rodent's cheerful commentary as she lithely stretches out. She watches the ferret with interest, curious as to his abilities. Chet cracks his egg into a glass and fills it up with juice, then stirs it with a fork as the lioness heads back to the exercise area. "To each his own. I think she's thinking the rooms are too small." Njozi'joshi's chuckle is a quiet rumble at Chet's comment.

Hazmat grins faintly to himself. The kitchenette is even equipped with a spice rack! He snoops about the rack, sniffing... and pinpoints what he's looking for. Removing the powdered garlic, the cook just barely peppers the pan before sifting it about, letting the garlic settle in with the butter before cracking the first few eggs, and letting the goodness within drop to the pan.

Kamui makes his count out to thirty, then prepares to switch arms, lowering his left down from behind his back. He holds it out perpendicular, legs and tail counterbalancing, and then with a push, slips the left in for the right. The hop unbalances him, and he wobbles visibly, tail tracking widely across to find the precise position... and then he steadies. He nods to himself. Tch. Must be careful. Do not show off, Kamui. He resumes his quiet count on the left arm. "Ichi... ni... san... shi..."

Chet sniffs at the garlic eggs with interest. "Hmm. You might actually get me to give up raw ones if they taste as good as they smell."

Hazmat glances over his shoulder, the words just now registering. "Small? Well... I can see that. I'm comfortable, but she nearly makes two of me." Finding a suitable spatula, he stirs them, nodding to himself. "Well, Doc, some've said my taste in food is a little odd... but a little dab in it isn't bad, ne?" Glancing over his shoulder, "I guess that cuts out the middle: raw eggs and thin ketchup."

Chet snickers. "It's not ketchup. Tastes different. As for the eggs... it's a taste they never managed to talk me out of. Must be ancestral or something." He grins at Hazmat and sips his liquid breakfast. "I'll start with this, do my morning exercises, and see what you come up with." With that, he heads back toward the exercise area.

Njozi'joshi watches the ferret with interest, then nods quietly to herself once as he changes arms. She finishes stretching out, then pads around the room's edge, searching... until she finds what she's looking for -- a door with a heavy scent of metal and rubber behind it. Smells like her usual weights set to her. She slides the door open, looking pleased -- still got her scent on them too, even though they've been manhandled. No problem... she'll have them back to their proper state and scent soon enough. She casually loads up a bar and commences, starting at an easy 300 or so pounds.

Kamui glances up, hearing the clatter of metal on metal. He can't conceal a small blink of surprise, pausing at the full extension of his arm to count... One, two, three... four, five six... fifty pounds each... che! She is stronger than I estimated. She is quite fascinating.

Hazmat continues his work absently, pushing the sizzling yokes about, nodding as they're beginning to become well done. He finds a plate while letting them simmer, before dumping them into it and refilling almost in one motion. Too bad I didn't cut any potatoes; fried slices would've gone great with this. He peppers the scrambling eggs with a dash of garlic, and keeps count. "I have a feeling I'm going to be here a while..."

Chet pokes his nose into the other rooms fronting on the exercise floor, and chirrs as he finds the side room with a climbing wall and gymnastics equipment. He guzzles down what's left of his drink and starts his version of a kata, swarming up and down the climbing wall to limber up and then going to the parallel bars for a proper workout.

Njozi'joshi works out with slow, deliberate rhythm, pausing only to remove her shirt so she can work out in the fur rather than overheating, and to add weights to her bar. As the weights increase she has to push herself more, her muscles flexing powerfully and her quiet, coughing chuff!s to herself getting a bit deeper each time she strains.

Kamui counts thirty on his left arm, then begins a fresh count on both arms to finish. This requires a bit less delicate balance and he finds himself craning his neck to watch the lioness... Four hundred pounds now. Some humans spend their lives aspiring to that power. Then again... it is our function to exceed humans. I wonder if they realize yet how well they've succeeded in supplanting themselves.

Hazmat whistles as he goes along, letting the eggs simmer a moment while he hunts down a loaf of bread... then gives a squeak of triumph, having rooted out the jar of peanut butter. He sets up shop and once more drops the finished eggs onto a plate. Finally he takes the last of the dozen for Njozi'joshi, and begins the ritual once more.

Njozi'joshi carefully and thoroughly does a full workout, swapping out weights as necessary. By the time she's done, some time later, she's panting and sweaty, her muscles still ripped under the fur and her scent rather strong. She carefully puts everything neatly away, then does some cool-down stretches to catch her breath... and to give her time to watch her fellow teammates in action. Once she's done she tosses her shirt over her shoulder and heads for food... it smells marvelous and she's quite hungry now.

Chet has the balance of a cat, but not the strength, to support himself indefinitely on one limb. He runs through a routine on the bars, then another one on the rings before stopping with an Olympic-grade dismount. He pauses to retrieve the empty glass before heading back toward the food smells, just in time to catch the end of Njozi'joshi's workout. "That was quite impressive, Commander. Two hundred kilograms, wasn't it?"

Hazmat, by the time the lioness is done, nearly has the final few of the dozen eggs finished, and, scooting them around the last bit, pours them once more onto the plate. Nose twitching, noting the now stronger scent at a closer distance, he looks up, spotting the lioness. "Hey, Chief. You know if Ace or our gun runner will be rising, or should I let them salvage their own breakfast?"

Njozi'joshi rumbles calmly to the cacomistle, "Thank you. No idea. What's that in pounds?" as she sits down at the table... the chair creaks slightly in protest. She nods quietly to the rat, "They can forage, if they're so sleepy as to pass up scents like these."

Kamui spends the remainder of his time stretching and practicing a few brief combinations that he has been mulling over in his head over the last days -- particularly a set of wide, arcing kicks that carry him across the length of the practice area. His legs being not quite as rangy, proportionately, as a human's would be, he seems to be forced to compensate. Satisfied, he stretches a final time and pads out toward the kitchen. "I counted four hundred, shousei."

Chet does a quick conversion. "About 450 pounds. You don't have the metric chip?"

Hazmat, finding a fork, settles it into the plate and deposits the steaming eggs before the lioness. "I hope you don't mind garlic; I gave them a peppering. It slipped my mind about bad reactions..."

Njozi'joshi smiles, adding, "Thank you for cooking breakfast for us all." She tilts her head at Kamui, then smiles again, "Ah, thank you. Your work out also was quite impressive," then looks at Chet, "No, why would I need it?" Her smile gets wry, "I have quite enough chips in my head as it is." She licks her chops as the rat serves the steaming eggs, and starts devouring them neatly as soon as his hands are out of the way.

Chet looks blank for a moment as he sorts through his computer-aided memories. "Ah. It's in the mathematics co-processor. You probably wouldn't need that one, no."

Hazmat yanks his hands back dramatically before returning to the skillet. Njozi'joshi grins over her fork at the rat, having already consumed about a quarter of the eggs, "If this is garlic, you're welcome to continue adding it. This is delicious! Um... do we have any toast or meat?" She rumbles ruefully to Chet, "No Japanese either, unfortunately." She glances thoughtfully at Kamui, "I don't suppose you'd be willing to teach it to me?"

Chet takes a much smaller portion of the eggs, and nibbles thoughtfully. "Not bad at all. I thought there was bacon in there, didn't you make any?"

Hazmat says, "No worries; I enjoy it. My handlers grew tired of me asking for the oddest things to eat, and found it was better if I could just cook them myself. The one who prepared my meals couldn't cook peppered chicken with any quality." He points to the bread as he cracks some more eggs onto the skillet, then hrms at Chet? "I didn't see any bacon in the fridge; the handlers probably think too much cholesterol is dangerous for us, despite all the work we're going to be doing."

Kamui nods thoughtfully as he seats himself at the table. He runs a hand back through his head fur, rolling his head a bit. "I would be honored, shousei. It is a simple enough language to learn, with some dedication."

Njozi'joshi looks up in sudden, alert interest, "Bacon?" then looks back to Kamui, "I would like that, yes, please."

Kamui nods. "It would be my pleasure."

Chet frowns, takes another mouthful of eggs, and goes back to look. He pokes around, chirring to himself, then closes the door to look in the freezer. "Ah-hah. Here it is. Along with some pork chops and chicken. Better start thawing something if we want it for dinner."

Njozi'joshi licks her chops again, "Several chickens, please?"

Hazmat, remembering something, drifts over to the fridge and pops it open also. "Ah-hah!" He extracts the container of Kamui's formula. Ears perking to Chet, "Chicken? I should thank whoever stocked this icebox." He turns, whistling to the ferret, "Catch," before underhandedly tossing the can to Kamui.

Chet says, "They'd better not start in with politically correct food for us. We're mostly carnivore stock, and we're in an energy-burning exercise regime. We'd starve if they tried to give us soybeans and rice."

Njozi'joshi rumbles, "They will not be feeding us soybeans and rice, no."

Kamui catches it with one hand, "Ah. Good. Thank you." He cracks the seal on the can, taking a long pull of the starchy-smelling stuff inside. "They will not do so. If I were fed such a diet, I would be incapacitated in a matter of a day."

Njozi'joshi wrinkles her nose for a moment, "I would take a bit longer... but my judgement would rapidly be impaired, and I would step down as mission lead before I did something foolish like eat one of our targets."

Chet shakes his head. "I think they know better than that. Probably had all the meat stuffed in the freezer because they weren't sure of the timing. Eggs don't spoil quickly, and they don't freeze well at all."

Kamui says, "I burn several thousand calories in the course of a few hours. That is the reason for my cycle of activity and sleeping. I provide... intensity of action when I am active, and I sleep when I am not. That is my function, after all." Njozi'joshi nods quietly, thoughtfully regarding the ferret as she chews.

Chet nods to the ferret. "And your genetic heritage. If they've gotten you to this point, they will know what you need to eat to stay healthy."

Hazmat nods his head. "A tad bit of rice on the side, yes, but calories are important." He grins down at his pockets, noting a bit of junk here or there. Glancing up, he adds, "Yes, eating targets bad, particularly humans. You know how superstitious they can be..." A furred eye-ridge lifts at Kamui before he turns back once more to the eggs, humming to himself. A case knife is removed, the peanut butter opened... the rodent begins spreading it on the slices.

Chet grins at the rat. "Got any bananas to go with that?"

Njozi'joshi says, "Hazmat, would you be willing to cook up a pound or so of bacon, please?"

Kamui takes another long drink, licking his chops appraisingly. "Yes. It is rumored that my training gave me a... focused bent, on purpose. It was said that some of my... prototypes... underwent a kind of battle frenzy. They did not desire that trait for my purposes." Njozi'joshi pauses to listen to Kamui with alert interest.

With a laugh at the request, the cook looks over his shoulder. "You're never going to let me out from behind this oven, are you?" But already Hazmat is digging into the icebox, removing some of the bacon. "I heard that Fiona can actually cook... hmm, y'know, a challenge wouldn't be too bad..."

Chet chuckles. "You're the one who made the mistake of letting us find out you could cook."

Kamui says, "I have been accused of being infrequently... over-thorough. But I do not lose my self control. I enjoy my station in life, but all things in the proper measure." He takes another long pull. "Including food." He licks his lips. "If 'food' this may be called."

Chet sniffs at the protein drink. "Nourishment, perhaps. You really should try the eggs."

Njozi'joshi smiles at the rat, although one ear remains tilted towards the ferret, "You're a good cook, Hazmat... it would be a shame not to properly appreciate that." She turns to look thoughtfully at the ferret...then smiles, "It would seem to me that 'focused' rather than 'over-thorough' would be a better term to use."

Hazmat rolls his shoulders in a shrug. "Better that then suffer badly prepared food, mm?" The rat dumps the eggs onto a plate, and begins putting the eggs onto the peanut-spread slices, fetching the grease. His ear flicks to Kamui. "Truly? Hrm...so, what do you do for enjoyment? What do you do to stop from cracking?"

Kamui smiles a little. "You are most kind to say so, shousei." He nods to the doctor, "Yes... perhaps I should. I would like to eat something... when I was training, they fed me some sort of... spongy blocks... with the consistency of fried tofu. Filling, if not a taste sensation. A plate of eggs, please, Hazmat-san. If that is alright?" He pauses a moment to consider the question. "Cracking?"

Chet's nose twitches at the sudden turn of Hazmat's meal. He'd been hoping for peanut butter and bananas... peanut butter and garlic eggs is a bit strange. He scrounges for himself and finds a banana to finish off his meal, then sits back to listen. Njozi'joshi rumbles, "Try some bacon too, Kamui. It's quite tasty." She licks her lips again, watching Hazmat cooking.

Kamui says, "I am sorry, I do not understand the question."

Hazmat digs around in the cabinet, looking for another skillet. He would prefer not using two, but he's getting requests from all directions. Pouring grease into the new pan, he starts the bacon, and lets eggs dump into the pan, having learned to prepare quickly. "If you don't let yourself ease some stress, find something to enjoy, you're going to go insane. In other words, what do you do to relax?" Not needing to watch the bacon, he just pokes at the eggs with a spatula while taking a bite of his sandwich. Mm. The peanut butter keeps the eggs from falling out.

Njozi'joshi thinks a moment, then tries explaining, "Hazmat, I don't think any of us have had enough mission time to approach 'cracking'?"

Hazmat nods his head to the lioness, half turned toward the table. "True, but still, constantly training can get tiresome..."

Njozi'joshi looks curious, her fork pausing, "It can? Howso?"

Kamui pauses again. "I have never felt stress in that way... " He tilts his head, a little puzzled. "Everything I do is either in preparation or execution of my station; that is, to be an effective fighter. Knowing that I am capable as I am able to be... that gives me enjoyment. I have pride in my construction and my own abilities."

Njozi'joshi nods once in agreement with Kamui's assessment of training, "I also. I regretted only that my handlers did not seem to quite understand what a pride was, and why I might wish one. Hazmat, what happened during your training?" She pauses for a long, silent moment, then adds, "Or... perhaps they were simply being careful that I did not bond with them, instead of with my team. That is a possibility also."

Hazmat says, "You know... sleep, train. Sleep, train. Sleep, train. You get the pattern. Think of it like... a rubber band. If you constantly stretch it and let it ease, stretch and let it ease, it's eventually going to wear down. I don't know about either of you, but after eight solid hours of training I just want to settle back and take something apart, or roll my handball."

Kamui nods. "Many... let us say normal, for lack of a better term, ferrets are host to a number of health problems to which I have been made immune. My handlers treated me with respect; they made me a worthy fighter and gave me a life span far longer than a... normal. I have everything to be grateful for. I was granted a fine station in life."

Chet nods. "And a challenging one. It will be my responsibility to keep you all healthy and functioning, and unlike a doctor for humans, I have several models to learn. I suspect we will enjoy our missions." He nods to the lioness. "And speaking for myself at least, Lady Ghost, I would be honored to be part of your pride."

Kamui nods. "We are the favored operatives of a powerful company. We live in interesting times, as the curse goes."

Hazmat gnaws on his sandwich, easily taking it down. He checks on the bacon and notes the eggs are done, letting them settle onto a new plate before the rat sets it before Kamui, along with a fork. "Enjoy," he offers, before fetching yet another plate. Annoyed with the amount of dishes he'll have to clean, the rat begins depositing the fried strips into it. Refilling the pan, he removes a small, sponge-like ball and begins squeezing it while rolling it between his fingers.

Chet nods at Kamui's comment. "Indeed. And we're now finished with our training... or, I should say, ready to act. Training only ends when you die."

Kamui nods, "Words of wisdom, Doctor. Yes. We are ready." Then he ahhs, "Yes, thank you, Hazmat-san. Itadakimasu." He sets about eating quickly.

Njozi'joshi chews her food with deliberate slowness as she listens and thinks... she nods once in agreement with Kamui, then swallows and nods politely to the doctor, "I am also honored. Let us see what paths our lives take, and which prides we end up in, shall we?" Her whiskers quiver in anticipation at the rich scent of the cooking bacon and she adds with obvious pleasure, "Hazmat, thank you for cooking for us all. Would you mind if we aided you in cleanup after you were done, or is the kitchen your territory?"

Chet chuckles. "Remember what he told us about his name, Commander? I suspect we'll have to clean up if we don't want him cooking with dirty pans next time."

Njozi'joshi rumbles quietly to the cacomistle, "It is a courtesy both to offer, and to be sure we do not tread on his territory. I would wish the same myself."

Chet nods and acknowledges the rebuke as a fencing stroke. "Touché. Hazmat?"

The rat grins at that, letting his tail curling about a calf. "I imagine I'm going to have to share my own territory with Fiona; we both have the proper training, and it would be similar to one of you claiming the practice ring as 'yours.' However, cleaning is quite welcome..." Eyes drift toward his door. "As my handlers can attest, I'm not the best when it comes to tidiness and clean facilities." He snorts, adding, "But how is clutter uncleanly? It's just untidy."

Kamui swallows his food before speaking, "I can understand the desire for order in one's home. But your way is not the way of a handler. It is your decision, ultimately."

Njozi'joshi turns to look curiously at the rat's room, wondering if the door is open and what she can see. She sees some items -- tools, whatnot, in view. Interesting... he packs his room instead of packing with companions, perhaps? She nods quietly at Kamui's words, "Indeed. This is why I have removed my door."

Hazmat nods to the ferret. "Yep. It's in order! Everything's in its place... humans just don't consider the floor, or under this or that a proper shelf, cabinet, or container, as in place."

Kamui says, "As long as you feel it's ordered, that is all that is really important. And yes, shousei... I can understand the desire for open spaces as well."

Njozi'joshi nods once again, then turns to look at the cacomistle, "And you? Will you be changing your room to suit your tastes also?"

Hazmat, as if for the first time (which it probably is), notes that Njozi'joshi's door is missing. Hm. His whiskers flick. "Interesting..." He sets down the handball and empties out the frying pan, once more refilling it to let it sizzle. However, he's careful not to cook them with too much rubbery fat, making the majority crispy but perhaps some would care for a little fat on theirs? Taking up his handball in the opposite paw, he resumes his half-turn towards the group.

Njozi'joshi's ears flick easily towards Hazmat -- she's quite aware of just where that delicious cooking meat scent is coming from! -- but she continues politely watching the doctor as he replies. Chet shrugs. "A little. Some artwork, my book chips. Medicine trains one to be... conformist in one's taste. Drugs must be placed in standard locations in a pharmacy, for example, so that no one uses the wrong ones. Surgery emphasizes this even more. I tend to leave things where they are placed, so that things do not get lost."

Kamui says, "A sensible practice."

Njozi'joshi nods once, thoughtfully, "That... makes good sense."

Hazmat nods his head in turn. "Of course. Everything goes where it does -- else you may not remember where it was last time... do we have a firing range? Or know when we'll be issued a vehicle? I'd love to get under it and take a look."

Njozi'joshi considers the doctor's reply, then answers Hazmat, "Yes, we have a firing range, and vehicles are assigned on a case by case basis."

Chet frowns. "We'd better have a range. It'd be foolish of them not to let us maintain our skills."

Kamui says, "Hm. Yes, that would be useful."

Njozi'joshi looks back at the doctor and rumbles curiously, "So you are territorial... but not a social animal? I am puzzled. If you are not social... why would you wish to be part of my pride?"

Hazmat eventually empties the pan of bacon, and phews. The heat from the oven is none too friendly when you're wearing fur. Having heard no other requests, he cuts off the oven burners and sets the plate down in the center of the table, snatching a piece himself. "I'm sorry I didn't have anything prepared; I wasn't sure what everyone wanted, much less how much." His eyes flick up to Njozi'joshi. "You'll definitely be needing a lot. But I'll be better prepared for the next meal."

Kamui shakes his head, "Your effort is appreciated, Hazmat-san." He sets his empty plate aside. "Ahh. Gou chisou sama deshita."

Njozi'joshi beams at the plate of bacon, her fangs showing, and slides it over to herself... although she twitches slightly and stares at Hazmat for a second when he takes a piece. A moment later she shakes her head, as if clearing it, and starts eating bacon strips with her fingers, in neat, teeth-chopping bites.

Chet says, "Normal ringtails are mainly a solitary species, except for mated pairs during the breeding season. They live in arid regions, where large packs do not make good sense ecologically. It's not so much asociality as necessity for them, and they're not really territorial in the usual sense." He pauses. "We were all given some human characteristics, though, and humans are definitely pack animals."

Njozi'joshi says, between bites, "Are they like tigers, in that they'd be social if the terrain allowed it?"

Chet nods. "They are, yes, even more so than tigers. Breeding pairs stay together while they raise the kits, for examples, which tigers do not."

Njozi'joshi considers, then nods quietly to Chet, "Then I would think you would understand the desire for intra-pride contact, yes."

Hazmat eyes Njozi'joshi curiously as he gnaws on the strip and settles back against the counter, watching and rolling the handball in his off hand. "Well, we're all in a pride, right? That's a term for team, I'd gathered?"

Chet nods. "In a sense..." He waits for the lioness to elaborate.

Njozi'joshi smiles at Hazmat, finishing her bite before replying, "No... it is my term, for what I suppose humans would consider... family, or clan, or very close friends. I have but one pride member currently, although I hope to increase the size and ability of the pride if I meet suitable people who are similarly inclined. The team is something else again. That we are duty-bound to support."

Kamui folds his hands on the table in front of him, and simply cants his ears to the conversation. He gestures as if waving something away from the end of his nose. Hazmat nods his head lightly in consideration. He glances down. "Y'know, I should go put some pants on..." After setting the skillets into the sink and washing his hands off, a flick of his tail in motion of departing is given as he drifts into his room.

Njozi'joshi nods, "I should also clean up and dress." She rises, leaving her shirt still slung across the back of her chair, "But first, cleaning up, I think." She glances at Kamui and Chet, "Would either of you care to join me?"

Kamui tilts his head. "Pardon me?"

Njozi'joshi smiles, gathering dishes together, "In cleaning up, Kamui."

Kamui ohs. "Oh. Yes, of course. Of course. Forgive me, I was elsewhere a moment." He stands and begins gathering dishes.

Njozi'joshi pauses, thinking... then nods, "That was confusing. I meant first cleaning up in the kitchenette, then washing up."

Chet shrugs. "I suppose it's the least I can do. It was a very good meal. I do know that if you put frying pans in a dishwasher, good cooks threaten you with butcher knives." He gets up and starts stuffing dishes into the dishwasher.

Njozi'joshi continues to assist in the kitchenette cleanup, although she does give the frying pans a rather bemused look, then asks Chet, "Hm... what do you do with them then?"

Chet says, "I was told that you should wash them with hot water only, no soap, and wipe them clean with a paper towel."

Njozi'joshi says, "Oh." She regards the frying pans thoughtfully... then compromises, "Let's put them in the sink, fill them with hot water, and leave them for Hazmat to treat as he wishes, then."

Kamui says, "Yes. I would defer to his knowledge in that."

From the bedroom, "A wet rag works, too!"

Chet says, "Apparently, soap eats the grease out of them and makes the food stick... there, you see?"

Njozi'joshi grins at the yell, and carefully doesn't apply any soap to the particular dishes. Cooking must be an art... that's all there is to it. Best to stay well away from his tools, I think. Once she's done she looks around carefully to be sure everything is tidied away. "There... now washing ourselves up, I think." She takes her shirt off the back of the chair and heads for the showers.

Kamui hmms, regarding the dishes skeptically. He'd rather not interfere with the tools of another expert. He decides to simply set them aside neatly and follow the lioness. Chet shrugs and uses the prescribed wet rag to clean the worst of the grease out of the frying pans, and a paper towel to dry them, before following the others out. It actually takes surprisingly little time.

Hazmat returns, wearing another set of clothing, still stuffing something from his other lab coat into the pocket of the one now being worn. He frowns, inspecting the grease stains on the sleeves -- even a spot of peanut butter. Oy. He returns to the kitchenette and oohs, smiling. The skillets were even cleaned correctly! Ah. He inspects the dishes, making sure to get any missed spots, hits the dishwasher on a firm setting, and puts the skillets, bread, and peanut butter up.


Njozi'joshi pauses in the locker room doorway, looking around a bit dissatisfiedly again. She rumbles under her breath, "What is it with doors everywhere? What are they trying to hide?!" She absently rubs her chin on the doorjamb as she considers... then looks at the three others, "Would you all mind if I took this door to the showers down?"

Chet says, "Actually... if we take that one down, we get humidity all over the place. Better to leave that one where it is."

Kamui shrugs. "I have no special opinion of doors, shousei. If it makes you comfortable, please go ahead."

Njozi'joshi hms, repeating the chin-rubbing motion on the other side of the door as she thinks... then nods, "True... a good point, doctor. Let us leave this one to the lockers up, to prevent excessive moisture then, and discard the inner door to the shower." She paces quietly in, looking around and almost absently touching things as she explores the rooms.

Collecting his lab coat and disappearing once more into his room, the rat comes out with dirty articles of clothing. He draws toward the trio. "Would any know where we dump these? Or should I write my name in the collars so they aren't mistaken for others?"

Kamui says, "I believe there are facilities for that in the room adjoining this, Hazmat-san." Chet shrugs and leaves his clothing in his room, just taking a towel along to the showers. The creamy white fur under his chin turns out to cover most of his front.

Hazmat nods and draws into the shower, snooping around. Spacious! Hm... oh, the shower has a door... and not likely for long. But it's still partly closed in. Ah, a hole. He finds the doorway and snoops about the laundry facilities. Tossing his clothing in, and finding appropriate softener, the washer is turned on. A nod of departure is given, before he almost hastily wanders out of the locker room.

Njozi'joshi will eventually finish prowling thoughtfully through all the rooms available, and return to the long room full of showerheads. She turns one on, standing to the side, and tests the water. Kamui pads out into the showers, taking stock of the arrangements. "It would seem they have provided all the amenities. The rumors were true; we aren't to leave this floor without authorization. Interesting."

Chet follows Kamui into the showers. "Hard to keep us a secret if we go wandering all over the place at random, after all. Can't say that I blame them."

Njozi'joshi glares at the shower door, and decides to remove it first, then enjoy her shower. She turns off the shower and nods to Kamui as she starts working on the door hinges, "So it would seem. I am growing quite curious, myself... we are, to my knowledge, carefully crafted and utterly unique... and yet we've been thrown together almost at random, and no further information has been given to us since then."

She adds, as she shifts the door aside, "At least they thought things out well... a well-stocked, if small, refrigerator, and industrial strength hair dryers." She dusts her hands off, then nods in satisfaction to herself and paces back into the shower room, "That's more like it." She turns on the shower full blast, as hot as she can bear it, and simply stands under it, getting pleasurably drenched and rumbling a quiet, contented purr to herself.

Kamui finds a suitable place to stand and commences showering. He goes through the motions quickly, methodically; he has an ingrained aversion to water, but he also appreciates the values of remaining clean. Chet has the procyonid tolerance for water, however, and brushes through his fur while his shower runs, cleaning grime and excess oil out of it. Unlike a human, he has very few sweat glands, depending more on panting and a high surface-to-volume ratio to stay cool.

Njozi'joshi cleans herself off with a mix of running her clawed fingers through her fur, and occasional tongue swipes. Once she's done she turns off the water, then shakes strongly, from nose to tail tip... then pads into the next room for a towel. Kamui shuts off the water and stands a moment, dripping, one palm against the wall and breathing deeply. He straightens up, then shakes himself out, a rather methodical sequence of movements that makes its way from his head quickly down the length of his body out to the end of his tail. He nods, satisfied, and walks away in search of a towel with a snap of his tail.

Njozi'joshi is wringing her tail out in the next room. She nods to Kamui as he enters and tosses him a fresh towel with a flick of her wrist. Kamui catches it with one hand and a nod of thanks, drying his face and ears, spending special care on the latter. "So. It would seem they've given us time to grow accustomed to each other."

Njozi'joshi smiles at Kamui, "Somewhat, I suppose. It takes a while to get to know teammates, I think... perhaps a mission or two to feel them out." She rubs down briskly with the towel as she speaks, finishing off with the industrial strength hair dryers, which takes a while but allows her to get entirely dry.

Chet is the last to finish. He shuts off the water and strips the residues from his fur rather than shaking -- his fur sheds the water more easily than the others' do. He heads out to grab his own towel to finish drying. "It appears so. Time to train together, perhaps, as well. We'll see if they give us any group exercises."

Njozi'joshi rumbles quietly, "If they do not, we will think something up on our own."

Chet nods. "A good idea, but if we are restricted to this floor -- even if it is a large one -- there is a limit to what we can do in that regard."

Njozi'joshi heads out the door, once again buttoning on her shirt, "We will improvise."

Kamui positions himself under a dryer, still working at his ears, but alternating with his tail. "I would prefer to try, at least." He stretches a bit, shaking again. When there is no water shrapnel this time, he sets his towel aside and pads to the door.

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