(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.

[impure_tale]

[chucklesputter] Not what I would have expected.

[whattheytellyou]

What would you have expected?

...You're a horse. I would have expected...hm. A poodle, maybe.

[creatingalegacy]

[Amanda sees this entry, and she sees Hoffman's comments to it. THEY'RE BOTH HYENAS. Then she screams.]

YOU! You're both DEAD!

[whattheytellyou]

[WTF.]

You think I planned this?! I study hyenas! They're my life! What did you expect me to turn into?!

[creatingalegacy]

You're the same damn thing!

[whattheytellyou]

I have more right to be a hyena than he does!

[Offended Sarah is offended.]

[you_run_i_chase]

Oh for fuck's sake.

[whattheytellyou]

[Paaaaause.]

...Are you a bush baby?

[you_run_i_chase]

I don't know what the fuck I am. No one seems to fucking know.

[knowsthepeople]

No fuckin' kidding.

Hope you're not offended if I kinda keep out of your way until this is over. Pretty sure hyenas'd eat rabbits, if they got the chance. [Patrick is actually a cape hare, but the details =/= super important to him right now.]

[whattheytellyou]

I'm not the hyena you need to look out for.

[knowsthepeople]

Good Christ, is that Hoffman?

[whattheytellyou]

Before you say a word, I didn't plan this. I study hyenas. It's my job. They're my life.

I don't know why he's a hyena, too.