ᴜsᴇʀɴᴀᴍᴇ: ʜᴜɴᴛsᴍᴀɴ (VIDEO)

[dishearten]

( graham doesn't like using the video feature much, so mostly he avoids it. people might recognize his username, though, he hasn't been silent on the network that connects members of ALISTAIR. in fact now that he's a fugitive he has a bit too much time to flip through messages, though that's neither here nor there.

still, the fact he's using it means he does so with a purpose. after Sakura encountered him in the woods, he doesn't see a better way to get his message to everyone that needs to hear it. hopefully the townsfolk themselves will just stay away, and his brother is clever enough to stay clear of people that might hurt him. he's smart and wary of humans, it doesn't seem impossible he'll manage on it's own. it just feels dangerous to leave him out on his own without trying to assure people the wolf is not a threat. )

A friend of mine came from home. I hear that happens on occasion.

( Graham tilts his pendant enough to capture the wolf in the feed, just long enough for the details to be picked up. a vibrant red eye, white and gray fur. a little too friendly with a human, one could argue, as the wolf is looking up at him with an open-mouth grin, much like a dog. )

He's not a threat to humans. He'll more than likely run if you get too close to him, but all the same. If you see him, don't hurt him. He won't hurt you unless you threaten him.

( the wolf still has instincts enough that he will fight if he feels he has to for survival. being so close to a human has tempered many of his wilder instincts, yet the wolf is still and will always be a wolf. )

If you hurt him despite this message I promise you'll regret it.

( there's a steel edge to that threat that is very sincere. Graham was a better man than the Hunstman ever claimed to boast, and the wolf is about all the family he's ever had. if someone is bold enough to try and harm him (or worse), they'll have a dedicated hunter after them, and a ruthless one at that.

with that the video feed closes. if there are questions, they'll likely be answered via text. )

Comments

[bougy]

I'm sure you will. You clearly care a great deal for him, and he for you.

( she pauses for a minute, smiling still because dog. she can't deny a certain curiosity she still has regarding something he mentioned. )

You said you've known him for a long time? If you don't mind me asking now, could you tell me how you met him? Was he a family dog?

[dishearten]

I met him when he was a pup. We grew up together, more or less.

( the wolf was born into the pack that had raised him, so it's not a lie. it's something he's carefully honest about, though. most people wouldn't quite believe he was raised by wolves and he's not inclined to tell them. )

[bougy]

( she does note the lack of a mention of any other family until now, at least. she can't deny a certain curiosity, though knows from personal experience how fraught the issue can be. )

So you met him when you were a pup yourself? Makes sense. It's rare enough to see a wolf trust a human, though it's been known to happen. But, now that I think about it, I don't believe I've ever seen one so tame before. ( she tilts her head a bit. ) Either you've got some really good luck, or that's quite a sterling character you've got.

[dishearten]

I suppose in the end that's my fault. He's used to humans, more than most wolves. He's still got most of his instincts, but a part of me worries he'll trust when he shouldn't.

( he definitely doesn't think it's his sterling character. the wolves trusted him because he was family. they'd protected him when he was too young to protect himself, but distance from it makes him aware of how flawed a situation it was. still, if he could change it, he wouldn't. the wolves were the only kinship he could remember, he wouldn't give that up. )

[bougy]

And usually shyness shouldn't be encouraged. ( in people or, at least, some pets. ) How odd. I'm certain I've met plenty of farm dogs who're much meaner though just as loyal to their masters. Which is probably the key difference there. I wouldn't say you're to blame, however. Maybe he's just naturally a gentleman.

( she shrugs a little. she doesn't have a strong opinion one way or another how people should related to their animals; her own dog was treated like a member of the family, but that was only to be expected with how few others she and her siblings had regular contact with. ) How much of what you say does he understand?

[dishearten]

He might be that. You're right.

( the wolf has always been a little sweeter and a little goofier than some of the others. she's not wrong that his temperament might just be calmer. )

He knows a few specific commands. I don't know that he understands everything, but the things that matter.

[bougy]

( she laughs a bit, because who wouldn't be at least a little pleased to hear that she's right? ) The things that matter, right.

Does that include jokes? ( where exactly she going with this is just as much her own guess; she doesn't have particular jokes in mind, but it's always easy enough for someone like her to come up with one whenever she has the chance. )

[dishearten]

Apparently not my jokes. He never seems impressed.

( that might be because he tells jokes that even dads would be ashamed by... but that is neither here nor there, obviously. )

You could give it a go when you meet him. Perhaps your humor is more to his taste.

[bougy]

Are you sure? Maybe he's just heard them all.

( surely they can't be worse than hers if he at least cares for his audience. but, regardless, she smiles because she's sure her own dog loves her jokes, one of which is encouraging him to bark. )

We'll see. I wouldn't throwing him a bone or two.

[dishearten]

( he laughs at that. )

You know, maybe.

( his jokes haven't changed much in thirty years, maybe the wolf is just tired of unfunny dad jokes. )

That's nearly cheating. He'll like anything if you give him a treat first.

[bougy]

( a laugh is always a nice sound to hear, especially from a man who seems so serious. she gives a good smile, one that's more an actual smile than a smirk as she continues on. )

Hey, now, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do when it comes to dogs that cute! Unless you've told him no, I think he knows just as well as I do that a little incentive is fair game.

[dishearten]

( it's true, laughs are rare out of him. it's a part of not having his heart, it's not often that amusement actually hits him. it is a sort of success when it happens. )

We'll just have to see, then.

[bougy]

( a victory, then. sad as it may be, after a hard life one eventually comes to count them as successes. though she doesn't know that yet. )

Would you be able to offer me any hints? Provided that's not cheating, naturally. I have a feeling you prefer good sportsmanship.

[dishearten]

I find he's more amused by my mistakes than any jokes I try and tell.

( if you trip in front of a wolf, they will practically laugh at you. it's the truth. )

[bougy]

Slapstick, is it? ( if he's on screen, he'll give the wolf something of a look, as if she expected better of him. really, how low brow. ) Well, since it is apparently winter in this world, maybe we can figure something out with ice? But I'm not licking any poles. And neither should you, by the way, just in case you were getting any ideas.

[dishearten]

( he's from Maine and he worked as a sheriff, so it's safe to say he does know what happens when you lick something metal in winter. )

I wasn't planning on it, no. I've poured enough hot chocolate on frozen tongues to know how that ends. Getting him to laugh isn't easy but it is possible, though wolves might have a different sense of humor than we do.

[bougy]

Hot chocolate, huh? For shame, that's practically rewarding bad behaviour. ( it should be bitter tea or nothing. still, she smiles. this is going to be a nice challenge. ) Cultural differences, perhaps? I can't say I always know what my dog is thinking, and I probably won't know what a wolf is thinking, but I'll do my best. I'm sure his laugh will be menacingly adorable.

[dishearten]

It was easy to get at the diner, what can I say.

( hot chocolate was the choice du jour in Storybrooke, that's just how it is. )

It's true, a good laugh comes with a great deal of teeth. It's worth it, though.

[bougy]

Maybe you have a bit of a sweet tooth yourself?

( lightly teasing. and speaking of teeth: )

Provided they're not the last thing I see. He better not be the kind of critic who wants to bite someone's head off.

[dishearten]

I might, but I don't see what that has to do with anything.

( okay maybe it's got something to do with something... )

No, good joke or bad, I'd say you're relatively safe.

[bougy]

Ah, I see. I'm sure it has nothing to with your own personal tastes.

( teasing, and with a slight smirk too, and then she smiles because that's good to hear. she does like her head where it is. )

[dishearten]

I mean if I'm going to drink the rest of it, I'd rather not have something I don't like.

( you might have him on this one, Hawke. )

It was nice meeting you.