[Video] Tinkering

[frickingguardian]

[Rocket is peering too closely at his omnicom for a moment as he speaks, tapping on the screen and grumbling.]

Is this thing-okay, yeah, here we go.

[He pulls back so he can look at it more clearly, laying his ears back and frowning a bit.]

Hey, new guy here. I gotta work on the guns I came with to get them up to spec. Any techie types, there a spot where you guys usually work?

[Tech types, prepare to lock your toolchests down, or you're going to come back to an absolute nightmare.]

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[thethinzooline]

[He takes off the sunglasses, revealing a quizzical expression.]

You don't know what I am?

[How is he a raccoon and he doesn't know what a fox is?]

How do you not know what I am?

[frickingguardian]

People keep talking about things I've never heard of, then acting shocked I've never heard of them. It's getting old.

[He lets out an irritated sigh.]

No. I have no frigging clue what you are. Enlighten me.

[thethinzooline]

I'm a fox!

You don't have foxes where you come from? Because we have raccoons.

[frickingguardian]

Never heard of one. And people keep saying that, but I ain't never seen one. I'm a me.

[thethinzooline]

Okay, you're a you, but you're also a raccoon. I know a raccoon when I see one.

[frickingguardian]

I'll believe it for real when I actually see one.

[thethinzooline]

[Nick gets out his phone, which he still keeps on hand because it's his phone, doodles with it a bit to figure out how to send something from it to his omnicom, and then sends Rocket a picture. It's of him and a raccoon guy that doesn't look altogether that different from Rocket. The coloring's a little different and that's about all.]

That's my friend Lenny.

[frickingguardian]

[Rocket's jaw drops. Yeah, he's heard Quill say it, and Rich said the Rocket he knew definitely came from one, but he hadn't been convinced about it for himself. Weird different universe crap and all.

But that? That looks a lot like him.

He stares at his omnicom hard, ears flicking up and down as he looks at the picture.

It's a really, really strange feeling to see something that's basically exactly like you after a lifetime of being the only one.]

[thethinzooline]

[Rocket's reaction is...strange. Strange enough that it's clear that Rocket isn't pulling his leg over the "not knowing what raccoons are" thing. It makes Nick's smugness abate slightly.]

There are lots of raccoons where we -- ah, that would be my partner Judy and I -- come from. And lots of foxes -- like myself. And definitely lots of rabbits -- like Judy.

And an incredibly varied assortment of other furry and not-so-furry people that don't look like these weirdos in this place with the no fur and weird rubber faces. [He gestures to his face with a paw.] Do you not have other raccoons where you're from?

[Was this something where he'd been raised away from other raccoons or something?]

[frickingguardian]

[Rocket shakes his head after Nick starts talking, snapping out of his shock. The question makes his ears flatten again, splayed out to the sides in irritation.]

No. There's aliens with fur, yeah, and short ones, but nobody like me. And I've seen a hell of a lot of the galaxy.

[thethinzooline]

Judy and I are from Earth.

Like a version of it that's apparently entirely different from the Earth all these humans are from. Similar culture and movies and technology and all the little trappings, but entirely different species. Plural. They have just the humans, we have lots of different mammals.

[Many many species. All from Earth.]

Including lots of people like you.

[Nick doesn't understand how he can be the only one.]

How...how is it that there aren't other raccoons? Where did you come from?

[The question is asked with gentleness that some might have found surprising coming from him. But he's a cop and he smells something...wrong here. And that means this is someone who may have been wronged.]

[frickingguardian]

[That question makes Rocket bristle, and he bares a few teeth reflexively. Gentle tone or not, the question is edging dangerously close to some raw nerves.]

Nowhere you've heard of. And I don't know why there isn't anybody like me.

[That would be a question for people he'd really, really rather not see again.]

Earthers where I come from look like most of the people here, not...raccoons, or foxes, or whatever the hell else you're gonna rattle off that I've never heard of. I ain't even ever been on Earth.

[thethinzooline]

[Whoops, baring of the teeth, not good. Nick holds up a paw in a placating way and instinctively flattens his ears against his head. Peaceful, passive body language.]

That's -- that's fine. It's just...an unfamiliar thing, you know? It's a little different back home. A raccoon would know other raccoons.

But whatever you've got going on? It's all fine.

[He lowers his paw out of frame.]

And it's nice to see another face that isn't -- [He gestures to his face in a "have you seen that business these humans have going on?" gesture.] -- horrifying? Is still the primary word I'd choose? Not that they can help it, but...it is what it is.

[frickingguardian]

[The switch of subject-kind of-helps, and Rocket stops baring his teeth. For the moment. Nick's comment on faces gets a snort and a brief roll of the eyes.]

It's the norm. Some things'll have a snout or big ears, but most people, they have Earther look. Maybe a couple extra eyes, different noses, all kinds of colors...but same basic kinda face.