Meet The Baby Sloth!

[doubled_speed]

Who: Tommy Shepherd, OTA
What: Newest and cutest addition to the Sphere approaches. Come meet Speedy
When: September 27-30th
Where: Around the main domes

For the last few days Tommy's been busy. Barely even out and about to get food other than on quick runs. And work? Work's sucked because he wasn't home. But now he'd adjusted, and that means things are great.

Baby sloths are adorable.

This is something made more obvious by the amount of time Tommy spends near trees, where he's stretched out on a branch, grinning as he looks up at a small, reddish animal clawing across a nearby branch, listening it to squeal and move and watching with all the nervous fretting of a parent watching their kid.

"Come on, Speedy. You can do it. Just another half a foot and your leaves will be right there."

Someone has a new pet.

Other than that he's back on the job, running packages with all his usual gusto, chatting friends up, and just all around everywhere and anywhere. With a new satchel always at his side. From which, at times, there is a series of high pitched, squeaky noises. Which Tommy coos at before pulling leaves or pellets from his pocket and shoving them into the bag.


[OOS: Can also happily do custom starters if someone has somewhere they wanna run into Tommy and his sloth. Or feel free to wildcard it. If you have an idea, hit me on discord at Churby#4290, or plurk at churbooseanon

Also, cute video of baby Hoffman's Sloths and the noises they make. Look for the ones with white faces. That's what Tommy's got>

Comments

[minus1twin]

"Speed?" Wanda asked, over hearing Tommy talking to the small sloth.

This was the first time she'd seen an animal here. It surprised her that it was a sloth and that it was with Tommy. "Is he yours?" She decided that it was probably best to ask her son one question at a time.

"Will he be in the haunted house?" Maybe two questions.

[doubled_speed]

Not just a sloth. A little sloth. A baby sloth. The best sort of sloth. Well, even better, it's his. Tommy sits up, his leg swinging loose over the limb and he grins down at her.

"One, yes. Two, no? I mean, what if it scares him? As his dad I have to protect him, right?"

[minus1twin]

"Does that make me a grandmother already?" Wanda spoke as if the words made her feel old but she had a smile on her lips. It was cute to see Tommy with the little sloth and oddly fitting.

"He's cute."

[doubled_speed]

Tommy just grins down at her, trying not to laugh. It's VERY clear he's trying not to laugh. That he's biting his lip to keep from doing it.

"I mean, if you wanna be called Gramma Wanda, then by all means. But he isn't going t learn to talk for a long while. And Speedy is the cutest. Look at him, he's red. The chillest red-colored Maximoff there is."

[minus1twin]

Wanda reached up and lightly ran her fingers along the sloth's head. It was so cute. "I can see the family resemblance." She laughed softly.

"I think Wanda is fine. No Gramma yet." She paused and then asked. "Have you told Ultron he's a great grandfather?"

[doubled_speed]

Cute, and surprisingly soft for the thick, wiry fur. But he grins. Of course she does. The reddish fur of the body, the white fur around the face. Clearly he's a good little Maximoff. Even has Billy's caramel brown eyes.

"Not really. Been spending the last few days getting the little one adjusted. And I'm worried he won't like it much."

[minus1twin]

"Why do you think that?" Wanda's expression appeared softer, lighter and even younger as she petted the soft fur. She'd never had pets and she hadn't had a lot of interactions with animals.

It was surprisingly therapeutic.

[doubled_speed]

Because it's cute, small, fragile, and serves no purpose?

"I mean, he doesn't see all that much point to humans. What point is there to a sloth underwater? None. But he's a good kid. He likes leaves and flowers and fruit. But I can't give him too much fruit because too much sugar would be bad for him. And I need to get him a stuffed animal because he steals my pillow some."

Speedy cried if he left the little guy in his habitat at night. Should really let him get used to it, but who could say no to those soulful little eyes?

[minus1twin]

Wanda laughed and was surprised at the sound of it. When was the last time she laughed like that?

"What's the point of humans underwater?" She teased Tommy gently, her voice warm and her accent thicken. "I think that Persephone can create flowers and other plants. You might want to ask her about his diet. She might have something." Wanda didn't know the goddess well but some information had filtered through the mental communicators that linked them together.

"What about a little sloth stuffed animal? I am sure I can find something." For her grand-baby-sloth.

[doubled_speed]

Interesting. A person who can make plants. That could to be useful. He'll have to figure that out.

"That's pretty great of an idea, Mom. If there isn't one, I was thinking about a bear. Because he looks a LITTLE bear, and bears have smiles stitched on, and Speedy always smiles."

Best part about the structure of a sloth's face.

[minus1twin]

She smiled when Tommy called her mom. It was such a simple thing but Wanda couldn't help herself. She'd come to love her son despite the universe between them and she was honored to be considered at least one of his mothers or a version of her.

"A bear would be a cute stuffed animal." And easier to find.

"Do you mind if I find something for him?" It would be fun and she liked the idea of going shopping for a stuffed animal for a Sloth. It was cute.

[doubled_speed]

Well, what else was he going to call her? Just Wanda would be rude. But he hops down from his own branch with a smile, joining her at looking up at his little guy from a different angle.

"I'm cool with that. I don't even know what makes a stuffed animal good or not."

[minus1twin]

She laughed softly. "I used to have one. So I know, a little." Wanda had had a short childhood but her powers meant that she never completely forgot it. She had some wonderful memories with her parents and the bunny that her mother had made her.

"I'll find something perfect."

Maybe a few somethings. "Oh. I invited Bev to family dinner too. I did not think you would mind but I wanted to tell you."

[doubled_speed]

That makes her more qualified than him. Because Tommy? Yeah, he never really had the whole 'parents getting you stuff' thing. Not his experience.

"I believe you. And if you can invite Bev, can I invite Peter? Kid is a bit lost here, and yanno, sorta gotta take care of my hero-bros."

[minus1twin]

Wanda was going to get Tommy something too but she'd let that be a surprise.

"Yeah. I like Peter." He's a cute kid though very awkward.

[doubled_speed]

Well, Tommy's relieved.

"He was being silly. Said I had to get lots of permission first. Like, dude, chill."

Especially if Tommy's helping cook. But he can really pack away some sandwiches so Tommy gets it.

"We'll need to cook more than normal. Peter's got a serious appetite too. Not like mine, but plenty. I'll help."

[minus1twin]

"I don't know if Peter knows how to chill." The word 'chill' sounded very odd coming from Wanda like it wasn't a word she said often.

She smiled. "I think we can manage that. I'll make sure to buy enough food for an army."

[doubled_speed]

Oh, she's got a damn good point there, and Tommy grins when she makes it.

"I'll help buying. Seeing as I'm most of that army."

He doesn't want to be a burden and all of that. He never wants to be that to her.

[minus1twin]

"How about I write you a list then?"

Wanda liked the idea of splitting everything up. That was what her and her brother used to do and it felt right to keep that tradition within their rag-tag little family. None of them ever had to be alone; even when doing silly things like making dinner.

"I think we should have strawberry short cake for desert." This was going to likely turn into a feast with Bev, Peter, Tommy, herself and Ultron (even if Ultron doesn't eat).

[doubled_speed]

A list is absolutely the best plan, because then he wont' forget what to do. But dessert definitely gets him to grin.

"Alright, that sounds like a super plan. I'll have to find somewhere to get the short cake. But Bev can help with that. Maybe we leave Bev and Peter in charge of it."

It is pretty easy compared to making tacos.

[minus1twin]

"Good. Stop by this evening and I'll give you the list." Tommy was fast, it was much easier to get him to find her than it was the other way around.

"And if you ever want a baby sitter." She nodded to the baby sloth. "I am sure Ultron wouldn't mind having him around the apartment." They didn't really live in traditional apartments but Wanda didn't know what else to call the dorm that had slowly begun to feel like home.

[doubled_speed]

“Not a bad idea. Could definitely teach Gramps something about take care of other people.”

Sad as if Tommy was really any better at it. More than that, said as is if Ultron did t already work hard to take care of Tommy. The robot had done a lot for Tommy a few months back. Simple fact of the matter was that Ultron was trying.

“I’ll be by tonight. You guys can watch Speedy while I shop. He gets jealous when I buy fruit for myself.”

[minus1twin]

"I think so and I wouldn't mind having him around." It was a cute baby sloth, Wanda couldn't help but smile at it and want to shower it with affection.

"Okay. I will have the list on the table." In case he got to impatient to wait for her.

[doubled_speed]

"I'll pick it up later. Gotta get back to working on stuff now. He needs to go back to his habitat for a while, get some sleep. That okay with you?"

Plus work. There's all the work to be done. Which means he's going to enjoy it for the time he can.

[minus1twin]

"Yeah."

She had to go find gifts for her two boys anyway.

"I'll see you both later." Wanda smiled and gave the sloth one last lingering glance before turning to go.