futurology | VIDEO; UN: HAWKEYE

[Instead of any person, the scene presently on the screen is of a backpack lying in the snow, overflowing with child leashes in a variety of different colors and patterns. The voice that pipes up has about as much warmth as the chill tundra wind and is just loud enough to cut through the continued wailing of infant squidges nearby.]

It appears that some of our superiors question our ability to properly watch over these small creatures.

[Though if the delivery was sent in earnest rather than as a practical joke, she can't say she disagrees with the assessment, at least not with regards to a certain subsection of Team Audentes. (Fortune might favor the bold, but it certainly won't favor anyone lacking basic common sense as far as she's concerned.)

Regardless, she presses on.]

While I should hope that none of you will need one at the moment [judging u if you put a leash on ur infant squidge tbh] some of you may find them necessary at a later point in this mission. There seem to be enough for each recruit to have one.

[Unfortunately.

A brief pause follows, enough time for a resigned sigh.]

With that said, if you are concerned about caring for a living being, I'm sure there are several of us willing to provide advice.

(ooc: i bought a bunch of child leashes as an ac reward as i was completely out of ideas, feel free to handwave your character grabbed one.)

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L-leashes.....? But they aren't dogs?

[She doesn't even use a lead for Keroberos. She probably should consider the idea as he gets bigger though, more likely to pretty much run off on his own. At which point it would be more like him leading her around with it as the lion grows.

But the squidges? Okay so they can be kind of curious, but still. Sakura hadn't considered resorting to something like this.]

They aren't, but I'm sure some people will end up treating them like dogs.

[Which is unfortunate, to say the least, and something she'd like to try and prevent. (But if push comes to shove and it's between treating the squidges like dogs in order to keep an eye on them or losing them entirely, she'd still opt for the former.)]

I'm sure most of them don't mean to be cruel. They just have no experience in how to handle children.

I guess that's true. I haven't actually looked after a baby before.

[But really, given her age, most probably don't expect her to have done so. She's still a bit young yet even for babysitting, let alone such young infants as newborns.]

[Sakura's barely more than a child herself. She ought to be doing other things than being forced into being a pseudo-parent for a sentient blob of jello.]

Do you need any help with yours?

I think I'll manage. I mean, I'm with Graham-san and some others, so. Between us we should be okay. I know some basics at least even if they aren't human?

[The basics still more or less seem to apply in regards to their need for companionship and food, at the very least. But Sakura has help, so she's hopeful she will manage to get through all this.]

[Is that so? The thought's comforting, to know that there's someone watching over Sakura. (Resourceful the girl might be, but she's still young.)]

Staying in a group is a good idea. It sounds like it would make watching over them much easier too, in case someone needs a break.

Right! So it works out. I think they like having friends too. Though I am careful with Keroberos, he hasn't tried anything yet either.

[Which is good. She can't complain if he's more amused than annoyed at the goo babies.]

Keroberos? Is he your lion friend?

[She's seen him following behind Sakura a few times, and certainly had monitored Gilgamesh's original announcement with a wary, if detached, eye.]

I named him after Kero-chan. Since his true form is like a lion, I thought it would fit. And Graham-san is teaching me some, to care for him. I'd never had a pet before this.

[As the cub grows bigger, it is harder to miss him following along with the now teenager. And well. Chances are, Riza is hardly the only one that was unsure when Gil made that particular decision in gifting one of the cubs to the young Mistress of Clow.]

[She knows little about lions outside of their general animal profile, but they've always struck her as majestic creatures, ones not easily tamed.]

And he's been behaving well so far?

He has. I think he was a little unsure at first, but he's getting used to the squidges now. I'm still thinking of a name for my squidge though. I like her pink colour.

[Kero himself was enough of a handful. But if Sakura has any questions she can always ask Graham or Gilgamesh, so she isn't as worried as she could be, even as the lion grows up more.]

[Ah, names.....She'd been reluctant to name hers at first, but calling it 'squidge' or 'it' had been the lesser desired option.]

Who did you name Kerberos after? Maybe you can name your squidge after another one of your friends.

Oh, I named him after Kero-chan. The Guardian Beast of the Seal on Clow-san's book, where the cards were kept. Before I opened the book and accidentally activated Windy which blew them all away.....

[Thus starting her Cardcaptor adventure. Anyway.]

But hm. One of Eriol-kun's Guardians was Ruby Moon. But ruby is red, isn't it? Mine is definitely more a pink than a red.

[That sounds like a story worth telling, maybe on another day. For now, Riza's content to stay where she is, brainstorming up names for their small new companions.

Hmmm.]

What about Ruby Rose? That's closer to a pink.

Ruby Rose is pretty.....I like it! Has yours got a name too, Riza-san?

Not yet. [She smiles though, a little wryly.] But I've been told I have terrible naming sense.

[The main reason she hasn't named her squidge yet.]

Really? Maybe I can help. If we think of the colour? Or a friend of yours back home, maybe?

Many of my friends are children....

[But hmm.]

What names do you like?

Hm. I guess most of the names I could come up with might be Japanese. Is yours a boy or a girl?

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