fandomhigh | Fur, Feathers, and Scales: The Biology of Domestication, Thursday, Period 2

Today when the class came into the room, they would see the pillows-and-a-playpen setup had remained, the playpen full of a bunch of little round marshmallow balls, just warbling and going about their business.

"Hi, guys," Zack said, grinning brightly at his students. "Today we're going to meet a slightly smaller animal that I'm pretty sure you're going to like anyway. Today, we're going to meet the guinea pig!"

He leaned into the pen and scooped a little cream-colored one up, and then held it close to his chest as he spoke.

"These guys," he continued, "were domesticated on Earth thousands of years ago, probably less for companionship and more for meat. But, uh, please don't eat these guys. They're definitely more the 'companionship' sort. They're rodents, not pigs, and they're pretty easy to hand-tame. They're actually happiest with companionship. Little guinea pig colonies. This group here is a bunch of girls and boys, called sows and boars respectively, but the guys have all been neutered, since, uh... the shelter really doesn't need more guinea pigs."

They didn't need more of most things. Guinea pigs, chickens...

The little one in his hands was making a soft bubbling chattering sound, and Zack smiled a little.

"That sound means she's happy," he shared. "Go on, meet the guinea pigs, and maybe one will make that sound for you, too."

[OOC: Open!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Burbly!

Prince Sidon

Gratuity Tucci

Simon Spier

I mean, you could pay attention to Zack, orrrr you could just look at the little bubbly friends in the pen.

Go on, cuddle 'em. You know you want to.

Tip had definitely never actually interacted with a guinea pig before. She sat down and just watched them wander around for a bit before actually trying to touch any of them.

They were scurrying! She didn't entirely know why that was so entertaining, but it was.

He's here if you need him!

"Ahhh, Zack," said Sidon after class, when the time to gather up the guinea pigs and bring them back to the shelter was nigh. "Might I have a quick word?"

Zack was, of course, sticking a few guinea pigs into the crate he'd brought them over in when Sidon approached.

"Hey, sure, Sidon!" He turned a grin his way. "What's up?"

"I know this is terribly short notice," Sidon said, making sure to pick up a few of the little furballs himself and gently add them to the crate as well, "and I will most certainly assist you in returning the little guys to their rightful place at the shelter, but, well...an invitation has been extended to me to go explore the capital of this nation with a few of my friends, and I was wondering if it might be quite alright for me to have the afternoon off so that I may accompany them on this journey?"

Zack blinked, and then smiled a little and shrugged his shoulders.

"Hey, friends are important," he replied. "I'll tell you what... you help me get these little guys back, and I'll cover for you this afternoon myself as thanks for being my TA this semester. How does that sound?"

Sidon chuckled, amused by the fact that he should need thanks for doing something that he greatly enjoyed, anyway. "I think that sounds like an excellent plan," he said, "and I must thank you for conceiving of such a remarkable compromise!"

"Not a problem," Zack laughed. "If you need anything else, you know where to find me!"

... Zack was such an easy boss.

Hi, Sidon!

Hi, Everyone!

And although Sidon was happy to play with the guinea pigs now, he was looking forward to his TA duties of bringing them back to the shop. Because they were so small, that meant he could carry more of them at once, and that was just more fun for everyone! Plus, if they zonked out and napped all afternoon like the puppies last week...it would be adorable and awesome.

I'm probably the one monster in the world who never actually thought guinea pigs were cute until I discovered the short-haired version, because apparently all my friends ever had were long-haired ones.

There's an animal under that weird churring heap of hair? WHAT?

Fur, Feathers, and Scales: The Biology of Domestication, Thursday, Period 2

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Lecture!

Guinea Pigs!

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Talk to Zack!

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