15051/Flashback: There's More Than One Mutt on Knowhere

Flashback: There's More Than One Mutt on Knowhere
Date of Scene:	31 May 2023
Location:	Knowhere
Synopsis:	Not too long ago, Rocket and Sushi met on Knowhere. It could have gone better. This is an accounting of that fateful day.
Cast of Characters:	Rocket, Sushi

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Rocket has posed:
Another Guardians mission completed, another payday actually received. The group's back on Knowhere and Rocket's already spent some of it on..well, it's definitely not the finest liquor Knowhere has, but it's definitely not the worst. Not at the halfway mark either, more like a third or a quarter better than the worst. Or maybe 21.54% better than the stuff you'd rather use for cleaning something out. Guts, fuel lines, whatever.

Speaking of cleaning, the furry little menace of the squad is busy at their ship, tinkering. Always tinkering, always making some little improvement or upgrade often cobbled together from bits and pieces of scrap and junk nobody else would even know where to start with. All in all, things are pretty flarking good right now.

Which means something is about to ruin it. That's always the way it goes. The only questions are simple, both containing the same three letters: who and how?

Sushi has posed:
    Another three words that have been repeated frequently are, 'Where is Earth?' A third set are, 'Where is Quill?' There are some more three-word combos but they aren't for mixed company or old ladies with heart conditions. For now, just the one trio of words is being uttered by a deep, guttural voice with a sort of phlegmy quality to it, coming from outside the Milano. It's becoming increasingly louder, or rather closer.

    "Where is Quill! Reveal him to me! The Sushi demands it!" the stranger yells. Oh, what fresh new hell is this? As Rocket has surmised, it's always SOMETHING. At least this one hasn't started shooting or blowing things up or anything. Yet.

    "Appear at once or The Sushi shall unleash wrath upon this flying eggplant!"

Rocket has posed:
There's some banging away at one thing or another from within the ship, not too far from the port opening to board. At first it helps mask the calls from the exterior, where it's docked. It's during the non-bangy moments that the voice registers. "Oh flark off," Rocket grumbles under his breath. That doesn't change much.

Now Quill's name is mentioned, and he shouts back, "Quill ain't here! If he owes you credits, he's probably off drunk somewhere, chasing after some tail or some scut like that. Figuratively. I hope. I don't want to see anything involving him revealing himself to anyone!"

And yet, more orders barked out. Maybe literally. "Scutstained sons of chogs.." Rocket snarls, again under his breath. "Mother of scut..filthy grudscum..krutackin' d'astface.."

It's only after the wrath is threatened upon the flying eggplant is yelled out that the entryway curls itself open. The first thing heard is the sound of some energy signature amping up before the business end of a weapon pokes out, far too large for the one wielding it. "One: what kind of scuff-chewing dumbscut calls himself 'The Sushi?' Two: give me just one reason to blast your flarking head off. I don't even care if Cosmo sends his goons after me. Three.."

Three doesn't really get finished, because the head of a raccoon-like creature (who is most definitely /not/ a raccoon) pokes out and openly stares, upside down of course. "..what the flark are you supposed to be? A mutt in a humie suit? I swear to scut, if they gave me the usual swill instead of the good stuff..the /mostly/ good stuff..."

Sushi has posed:
    Standing outside is, indeed, a dog. Sort of. Much like Rocket in clothes, there is a head sticking out, but the rest of the body doesn't really match up. Though, well, the 'rest of the body' is made of metal so it may, in fact, be some sort of suit. Either way, the Corginaut turns his attention on the other furry fellow who appears once the entrance opens. "Hmmm!?" the dog responds initially to what sounds like threats and mockery. He does not care for these. "The Sushi is the name given by Quill during a past encounter! Sushi is a Corginaut, or as Quill says, 'Space Corgi'. Now, identify yourself to the Sushi! Your handsome moustache will not sway the Sushi away from his task!"

    As he speaks, there is very energetic posing and dramatic gesticulation as though he is performing for an unseen audience. All of his movements are like that. Pointing at Rocket when he speaks of raccoon's moustache, and then giving a thumbsdown when he denies the possibility of being misdirected. The yellow, black, and orange spacesuit-like thing appears to have a pair of what are probably weapons at Sushi's hips, and there is a large rocket on his back. Not a raccoon Rocket though. An actual rocket.

    It's probably strong enough for flight when used by someone who stands maybe 4 feet tall.

Rocket has posed:
Rocket continues to stare. "If Mantis is behind this.." He doesn't even know if Mantis can do something quite like this, making him see things that aren't real, that shouldn't be real.

He swings down from the opening to land on his two little feet, continuing to brandish the large weapon that hums evidence of the charge it's packing, waiting to be released. He wears a mostly orange jumpsuit. "Everybody knows I don't like pranks," he warns. "'Sushi' is a stupid name for anything, and I ain't got a moustache. I'm Rocket, also known as the best pilot this side of seven systems and overall genius. Your task is to get out of my face about Quill before I break that flarking suit of yours down for parts."

Such a friendly little beast.

"And stop posing like Quill! Did he teach you that?" What a nightmare.

Sushi has posed:
    Oh, no. This could have ended much more peacfully. Too bad Sushi has hyper-aggressive small dog syndrome and responds poorly to threats. "What! How dare!!" One of the arms he has extended pops uo some sort of blaster from the forearm so he isn't the only one with a weapon pointed at him. It isn't humming or anything, but maybe it fires without a build-up. "You mock the mighty Sushi, but you yourself are named 'Rocket'! Rockets are what the Sushi uses to fly around! They are not famous geniuses!"

    If there's anyone else near the ship, they might be getting the impression it's wise to get out of here. When small mammals with guns start yelling at each other, it rarely goes well for bystanders. "Sushi is the best genius! The biggest genius! The most genius genius! Sushi can out genius the Rocket at any time!" His spare arm is up and behind his head like in a kung-fu stance, but his body is just standing side-on to his challenger. He uses his robotic hand to snap his fingers. "Look at Sushi! Now look at yourself! Now back to Sushi! Now at yourself! Quickly, back to Sushi! Yes, Sushi is brave and strong and genius! Do not expect mercy simply because the Rocket has stylish fur and impeccable grooming!"

    Seriously, the shortage of creatures like these two is truly unacceptable, and Rocket is the closest thing to one of his own kind that Sushi has seen in a couple years now. Maybe Rocket walks a little funny, but compared to all these WEIRDOS!? Rocket is positively refreshing! Still, the Sushi must defend his reputation.

Rocket has posed:
Rocket stands there.

Rocket stands there some more.

Rocket continues to stand there.

Rocket also stares at the somewhat taller - only thanks to the mechsuit - Sushi...thing.

Rocket's lips, at the end of his triangular muzzle, curl upward into the look of a snarl. His eyes seethe with a cold, calculating intensity.

"Oh, you're flarking right I dare. And I mock everything and everyone. You ain't special. But I'm feeling generous today. I just got paid. Ol' Rocket's gonna go easy on you, you dumb mutt." All along, he speaks calmly, quietly. Almost too calmly, too quietly. Those who know him would see it.

The gun is put away, even as Sushi draws. Articulated, it retreats back into itself in a few particular spots, then he drapes it across his back where it has an attachment point. The shorter creature takes a few steps closer, getting within Sushi's personal space, arms crossing. He peers up, all nice and close, eyes narrowed, ears displaying total attention on the one before him as others begin to find better, safer places to be.

"I am only going to say this one time and one time only. Do. Not. Ever. Say. You're. More. Of. A. Genius. Than. I. Am." He winds up, aiming a slap right at the side of Sushi's doggy face! His striped tail? Bushier than usual. Poofed up, even. "What are you even a genius of, licking your own aft?"

It's right about this time someone else flows out of the ship more than just climbing out. "I am Groot?" Groot asks, eyes widening as the attack is attempted. Branch-like arms begin to wave back and forth. "I am Groot!" he adds, trying to get them both to stand down. "I am Groot!" he warns, looking toward the control tower Cosmo is often found in. Groot tries to get between the two in order to separate them.

Sushi has posed:
    Oh!? He's approaching the Sushi!? Even though he was just warned about what might happen!?! It seems Rocket is approaching because otherwise he can't try to slap Sushi in the face! Once Rocket puts his weapon away, Sushi does the same, though with a slight delay and a suspicious-as-heck look on his face. His fur is bristling a bit too, but he puts his arms down at their sides once the forearm-blaster retreats back into its casing. Sure his hands are near his pistol-things, but he isn't making like he's going to grab them either.

    If Rocket is going to take things down a notch, then, for the sake of civility between cultured life forms, Sushi will... Well, not take things down a notch. Maybe just dial back his hackles-o-meter a smidge. The dastardly surprise attempt at a slap gets a gruff shout of anger at this savage betrayal. Also, it appears Rocket has tamed some sort of strange broccoli! Sneaky raccoon! He had back-up all along!

    Sushi charges towards Rocket, arms outstretched, apparently planning to just fight the raccoon hand-to-hand. But with the tree in the way, he might not get very far. Jaws snapping, saliva flying, the wide-eyed and furious corgi does what he can to get into striking range, but doesn't draw weapons. He was slapped! This demands retaliation in kind!

    With Groot's interference, however, Sushi gets the time to realize he's not getting anywhere this way. He backs off, even his hackles-o-meter is back to 'really torked off'. "All Corginauts are genius! We are genius at all kinds! Space, machines, electrics, nuclears, anti-matters... All the things!" Sushi sweeps his arms out to the sides like he's declaring a baseball player has made it safely to home plate. He growls as he glares at the Groot whatever it is. Another one for the travel logs. Once the full scale of Groot becomes clear, Sushi tries to get control of his unquenchable fury because if he blows up the ship, he might not get what he wants from Quill. "Mostly machines for Sushi." he mutters as he backs up to give plenty of room for the walking vegetable department to intervene. He isn't afraid, but trees are big and Sushi is out of ammunition for his pistols.

    It takes a lot of seething and pacing and half-barks before the guttural voice of the Corginaut is able to compose something more like speech and less like murderous snarling. "The Sushi is magnanimous! Rocket and Sushi can be equals in genius for now. Until we prove ourselves in competition! We do not walk around bare-faced or bark-faced." Another glare for the Groot. "One day, Sushi will have revenge for being ambushed without warning! Very dishonorable! Sushi expected more from the genius Rocket!"

Rocket has posed:
Groot is Groot. That's just how it is.

As for Rocket, he's not so keen on listening to Groot right now. "I don't care if Quill talked to this..this freak! Or if Cosmo's watching! They're both dogs! If they aren't sniffing each other's afts half the time, they're probably colluding against me!" He's got a bit of a complex about Cosmo, one might gather or surmise.

Back to Sushi. Looking smug after connecting with THE SLAP, the orange-suited creature hisses (or something) and looks more than willing to get down and dirty with a fight, only for Groot to intervene. Bodily, at first, while Rocket goes on in attempting to get around or under him for more Sushi time. "What are you comparing yourself to that makes you a genius? That bent piece of scrap over there? I could make something out of it that would make your stupid dog mouth drop. That broken glass? Deadly weapon in my hands. I could take that spent energy cell over there and do things with it that would have you drool..more than you probably already do! That rusted pile of--"

"I AM GROOT." The one continuing to tell everyone who he is, or so it seems, has apparently had enough. Thinner lengths of vine and bark curl around to effectively muzzle Rocket, if only for the time being, others winding about his torso to lift him up and away so Groot can talk to him face to face, pointing at Sushi in the process as he guides the corgi back with his other hand and arm. "I am Groot. I am Groot!"

Only after he releases the grunting Rocket's muzzle does the little bundle of anger frown and state, while matching the arms-wide pose Sushi's taken on, "Quill's already talked to him? Why doesn't anyone /tell/ me these things first? I was ready to blast him for..being him!"

Eyeing the mechsuited pooch, he still scowls, only a little less so. "Just because you talked to Quill, it ain't like that makes us friends. I don't trust you yet. That, you gotta earn. I'll let you /think/ you're equal in whatever you want, so long as you keep it to yourself around me. Now put me down, Groot."

Groot does not relent, for the moment. "I am Groot."

Rocket scoffs, "I ain't apologizin' for that! He deserved it!" Must be talking about THE SLAP. "Your first mistake was expecting better!"

Groot audibly sighs, clearly frustrated. Again he thunders, "I. AM. GROOT!" to Rocket covering his ears with both hands. "Frag. You don't have to shout. I got good hearing. Fine. I won't attack him. We'll find Quill."

Sushi has posed:
    Sushi scoffs at Rocket admitting to being lower than the Space Corgi's estimation of him. Truly a dark day. Well, at least Sushi is now secure in his sense of superiority. That means he won't worry as much about having to prove himself. (This is how he has compartmentalized this encounter.) Rubbing his face where he was slapped, even if it was by a dainty paw compared to the metallic fists that Sushi would have struck with, Sushi says, "The Sushi wishes only to know how to get to Earth! And also where to find more ammunition! If you know neither of these, then Sushi will wait for Quill to return." He folds his arms, sticks his nose in the air, and turns away. He's fine with earning trust. He tends to trust most people he encounters unless they smell weird, but this first meeting has set the tone for future encounters.

    They will both have to work at this before they can be anything other than suspicious and/or dismissive. Speaking of suspicious, the Sushi is eyeing Groot. "Hmm. The Sushi wishes to learn Groot's language. This will occupy Sushi's attention while he waits." Oh, yes, of course. Just adding another language to one's repertoire in a few hours or minutes or however long it takes for Quill to get back.

    E-Z P-Z for a Corginaut! Probably!

Rocket has posed:
Rocket rolls his eyes at Sushi. He scoffs, not just once but TWICE. "I know how to get to Earth and where more ammo is, but I sure as scut ain't telling you, AND you don't just understand Groot without really knowing him first. But /I'm/ so smart that I know everything he's saying. He sounds simple to the rest of you because he don't know talking good. His vocabulistics is limited to 'I' and 'am' and 'Groot.' Exclusively, in that order. I translate for others." Well, there have also been universal translators to help speed the learning process up, but he isn't sharing that with Sushi. Not right away. The hound might not even end up on the Milano with them!

"So you're better off dealing with Quill. D'ast fool probably tosses a ball for you to fetch. You should see Cosmo when we do that, hahaha!" A hearty one from the belly, even as Groot continues to keep him aloft, his smaller feet kicking a few times with the laughter.

"I am Groot?" asks Groot. "Yeah, let's go. I'm getting hungry again." Seems like the two are headed back to the watering hole, with Rocket finally let loose enough to scramble his way up to perch atop Groot's shoulders, a hand holding the side of the big tree's head. "So you can stick around here and wait for Quill to sleep off the hangover he's probably got. If he ain't still in the horizontal position with someone else, that is."