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[sciencesquid]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, OCTAVIUS. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 015.03.020.15 *** OCTAVIUS has joined 015.03.020.15 <OCTAVIUS> You've reached Dr. Otto Octavius. Please leave a message.

Comments

[sciencesquid]

An axolotl? [The octopus is angled so that it's facing the door, and with that, Otto steps back from the desk again.] It's a sort of salamander, isn't it? The kind that lives in water?

[heyunderoos]

Normally, I'd like google it and show you some pictures but we're in a place with weak internet. [Oh how Peter misses the internet he's used to sometimes.]

Yeah, they're these cool salamanders that live in water. They have these cool like side gills. [He tries to imitate that by placing both palms near his face, wiggling his fingers. The addition of his whiskers wiggling just adds to the picture.]

I thought it'd be cool to make one for Norman. It can do the same cranky face thing too.

[sciencesquid]

['Google it'... Otto's still getting used to the fact that it's a verb in Peter's world. Oof.

The gill imitation triggers a chuckle, though. That looks so ridiculous, especially on rat features, but Otto loves it.]

I don't know how he feels about salamanders, but I'm sure he'll appreciate the gesture either way.

[heyunderoos]

Me either, but the idea kinda hit me, so I went with it. I saw this really cool fabric and it kind of made me think of him. [The teenager is unaware of Otto's suffering via google being a verb. In his mind its just undeniably a verb now.

He drops his hands back to his sides as he continues.] It's this really gradient rainbow that's soft to the touch.

[sciencesquid]

[One last twist of the octopus, then Otto withdraws from the desk again to join Peter.]

It sounds like you know a lot about this. Will you be starting a business in stuffed animals?

[heyunderoos]

[Peter snorts a little in amusement at that.] I know a little bit. I could probably never like- do a business or anything. I mostly know how to mend stuff and do like really small stuffed animals, as long as they're all kinda round.

[sciencesquid]

Skills can always be developed further. It only takes practice and, on occasion, some guidance.

[Is Otto saying this because crafting plushies is a safer hobby than crime-fighting? ...Yes, but he also thinks the plushies are nice.]

[heyunderoos]

Yeah, fair I guess. Though, I'm pretty sure only you guys will really like the stuffed animals I made since they're janky.

[Peter is decidedly unaware Otto is trying to steer him in a direction that isn't super hero-ing. He assumes since the stuffed animals aren't immediately perfect, its not worth going after.]

[sciencesquid]

Charming. The word you're looking for is charming. [Janky octopus? Never!] I wouldn't dismiss the option, in any case.

[heyunderoos]

[Peter sticks his tongue out at that. An unintended rat blep if there ever was one.] Sure, we'll go with charming. I still have like a lot too learn about this stuff.

I guess I'll keep it in mind. Probably weird if Spider-Man made plushies anyway.

[sciencesquid]

It would be odd if Spider-Man made plushies, I agree. But there's nothing stopping Peter Parker from having a hobby like that. [Translation: Please live your own life, child.]

[heyunderoos]

[Peter snorts a little, though he doesn't flatly reject the idea.]

I guess that's fair. I just... man, what would I even do with them? Like... give them away? Keep them?

[sciencesquid]

Whatever you want. But I'm sure Chiaki would like a stuffed animal of her own. Most people would.

[heyunderoos]

You think so...? [Otto found an excellent in. Peter does like the idea of making someone he considers a friend a stuffed animal.] I wonder what her favorite animal would be.

[sciencesquid]

You could always make her another octopus. [If he gets a plushie that's so on the nose, Chiaki can have one as well!] Though I suppose... She might like cats.

[heyunderoos]

Yeah, but I wanted you guys to have your own individual plush I guess? [Peter isn't sure how to explain that much.] A cat would be a good idea though. I should probably ask her, try to ask her subtly.

[sciencesquid]

[He does get the individual plush thing. It feels more personal for a gift.]

Hmm. What's your favorite animal, anyway? It's not spiders, is it? [Is he asking for future gift reference? ...Yes, but also he wants to know.]

[heyunderoos]

Oh, uh, I'm actually a little afraid of spiders? I don't freak out at them or anything, but they're kinda not my favorite. [The irony does not escape Peter given his obvious embarrassment.] I've always thought red pandas were cool, same for lions.

[sciencesquid]

Lions? Really? [Red pandas, he can understand. They're very endearing. But lions?] Is it because of their mane?

[heyunderoos]

I mean, they're cool! [Be unsurprised a teenage boy likes a 'Cool' animal.] Their hierarchy is really interesting to read about too.

[sciencesquid]

[Otto has never considered lions to be cool. Jaguars, sure. Maybe even tigers. But the hierarchy thing, at least, has him reconsider the potential.]

Oh, you mean how they function within their pride?

[heyunderoos]

They're not as cool as hyenas, but they're pretty cool structurally I mean. The prides can pretty much have a male lion around, or it's just all the female lions scaring the male ones off. Their gender binary is also kinda interesting since some lionesses can veer into looking male with the manes whilst actually being physically female. Like it doesn't happen often but it's cool to read about. [Surprise, he has strong opinions about lions.]

[sciencesquid]

Really? I didn't know that. Do these lionesses still act typically female in every other way?

[Otto's very relieved to find out that Peter's got more interests than just Spider-Man, so he's happy to encourage this sort of thing.]

[heyunderoos]

Some of them take on like more typically male behavior for the species, roaring, defending the other lionesses, and being maybe more aggressive at times.

I was reading an article about like five lionesses scientists managed to like observe, so I guess its on the forefront of my mind.