Illyana's new pet - Tag Yana

[st_guyinthechair]

Peter and Ned had managed to, eventually, win a goldfish when the other world had opened up. Ned had been convinced that Illyana would be happy with a pet - she just needed someone or something to give her unconditional love. A puppy would have been better, of course, but you didn't usually win those at midway games. Of course, when Ned started to think about it... was winning a goldfish just as bad as it would be to win a puppy?

It was too late now.

It had been a few days since the boys left the fish on the desk for Ms. Rasputin with a note hoping she would enjoy. As much as going to the library scared the pants off of Ned, he decided to try and do some 'recon' to see if Illyana liked her new pet.

He really hoped she hadn't eaten it.

He took a deep breath out in the hall, then stepped into the library and looked around. He felt the natural 'flight' urge, but told himself WWSMD - What would Spider-Man Do? - and remained.

Comments

[st_guyinthechair]

He paused, looking at her. "Do... you want me to take it away?" Though probably from his expression he really hoped she wanted to keep the pet.

[st_opsummoningme]

"Not at all." Illyana reached for something under the desk, a dark wooden plaque roughly the size of a postcard, and turned it around to show him where she had put his goldfish. Handsomely mounted on the plaque as if a fisherman's trophy, a copper plate set into the wood beneath the fish read the creature's name: ISHMAEL. "I simply haven't gotten around to hanging it yet."

[st_guyinthechair]

Ned balked and went as pale as his skin tone would allow him. He blinked a few times and felt a little dizzy. "You... you killed him?"

[st_opsummoningme]

"I immortalized him." She had determined it was most likely male based on its relatively thinner, more streamlined body shape with concave vent and midline ridge. "A better fate than neglect."

[st_guyinthechair]

His brow knit with concern. He had never had a pet so he had never really dealt with pets dying. "But he was so cute and swam around and stuff..."

[st_opsummoningme]

"Now he can be cute in perpetuity," she said with a blithe coolness. "He still serves the same function, and requires less maintenance."

[st_guyinthechair]

"Um..." He paused. Would Illyana do that to a person for the same reasons? Ned tried to push the creepy thought out of his mind. "Okay, well.. um. I mean... I should... " He took a step back, trying to figure out how to process the whole interaction and failing.

[st_opsummoningme]

"You should visit him whenever you feel the impulse to gift another pet uninvited," Illyana offered, glancing at the beam built into one side of the desk and lifting the plaque along it to try out its placement. "I think directly above the service bell would suit him."

[st_guyinthechair]

"Right.. I'll.. definitely remember that." He reached the doorway and paused. "Sorry, Ms. Rasputin." And then he hurried away.