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[scension]

Those of you with familiars, I have a question - how do you name them? Did it give you any trouble?
What happens if they don't like it?

It doesn't feel like naming a pet, or some future family member. Waiting for inspiration to strike hasn't worked yet.
And now I'm starting to feel like I have to give this phone a name, too.

Comments

[fullgauntlet]

I hope so too.

Yeah, I think overthinking it was kind of the hard part for me too. Maybe brainstorm a few names and try them out? See how he reacts?

[scension]

That's where the problem comes full circle...
But you have a point. The stakes aren't as high as naming a kid, either. We can afford to try out a few.
I just wish it was easier to figure out what he likes or doesn't like.

[fullgauntlet]

Yeah. Trying out a few and see what sticks? What kind of familiar do you have if you don't mind me asking?

[scension]

He's a kind of monster from the same world I'm from. It's hard to describe him better than taking a photograph.

[So he does the latter instead. Specifically, he attaches a photo of this wide-mawed, leathery-skinned, curly-horned demon thing, scaled down to about 6 feet tall, sitting at the foot of a bed in an inn room. Its distorted humanoid shape and exposed muscle might be a little bit reminiscent of a Nomu.]

[fullgauntlet]

[WHAT IN ALL MIGHT'S GOOD NAME IS THAT IT DOES LOOK LIKE A MUTANT NOMU]

aaa

Ah, that's an interesting-looking familiar! I didn't know they could

Look like that?

[scension]

You can probably tell why it's hard to come up with flattering name ideas for him...
He doesn't look enough like an animal for pet names to feel right.

[Yes, he feels bad about sending photos of his familiar with minimal warning. Yes, he did it anyway. It explains some things better than he can write them - let alone is willing to write them.]

[fullgauntlet]

[But as alarming as it is there is something kind of ... neat about it.]

Haha I don't know, maybe something simple and normal would be something good for it. It's kind of ironic, right?

[Call your mutant creature Roger or Spot!!]

[scension]

[But if he gives it a normal person name, he'll have to think about whether or not it used to be a person...

...

...Well, that isn't very interesting to anyone else. The only remote suggestion of his unease is a slight delay in the reply compared to his previous ones.]

That could work, actually. I was thinking he should have a short name that's easy to say.
Like "Red"? I like the colour red.

[Absolutely nothing about this monster is coloured red. The closest thing is the greyish-pink inside its maw behind its two rows of pointy teeth. But hey, red is Sagi's favourite colour.]

[fullgauntlet]

[Poor Izuku has no idea! Although with a glance at the photo again Izuku is sweatdropping just a bit more.]

Red could be a good name! I like red too, it's a strong colour. That could work.

[He loves his red kicks, he absolutely wears them because he thinks they're just flashy enough. And that familiar sure is...flashy.]

[scension]

[Honestly, it's nice of this guy not to get too stuck on how "flashy" the monster is. It almost makes Sagi jealous.]

Yeah, I'll ask him how he feels about it.
Thanks for the suggestions! I was really going in circles for a while there.

[fullgauntlet]

[He's definitely trying to be open-minded. One of his classmates has a sort of Japanese demon for a familiar so he knows these things are possible even if it never stops being shocking.]

I'm happy I could help! Let me know how he responds to it?

[scension]

[The reply comes a short while later - first Sagi had to mull over some of the alternative suggestions, then he had to call his familiar back after it wandered off.]

I asked him, and... he doesn't care what I call him.
So we're going with "Red" for now, just for convenience's sake. Thank you so much!

[A happy ending...? Well, it basically is. He hadn't expected his familiar to have an opinion one way or another.]

[fullgauntlet]

Ah, I see! That's great! I'm hoping mine will pick up his name soon... He likes it but sometimes he'll respond to two names...

[Because while he responds to the one Izuku picked he also likes one that Katsuki picked... His goat is so impartial.]

[scension]

As long as he responds to it, I'm sure he'll come around. Don't give up!

[This is his approach to life in general, and when has it ever steered him wrong? Except for the various times it steered him wrong.]

[fullgauntlet]

[He can't argue with that logic!]

I won't! I'll keep trying.