Backwater Nexus. Various Locations. Adoptables

[dens_extra_pups]

Kimahri: *made tea. Is passing out mugs now. Sets one by Den where she's sitting at her desk and arguing with a knitting pattern*

Denpup: *muttering choice words in a mix of languages at the pattern that she's trying to work*

Kimahri: *watches her for a moment, and then turns his head as one of the Sephs picks up his tea and exclaims about lumps*

Denpup: *looks over her shoulder at that* Lumps?

Seph: *sets mug down with disgust* Yes. Lumps.

Mabyn: *from her perch on the plastic file cabinet* Mmmmm.

Denpup: *looks in her mug*

mug: *contains strong black tea with a bit of butter, some chunks of beef jerky, and some cooked barley. Seems Kimahri makes Tibetan tea*

Denpup: Oooo! It's like tea soup!

Yuffie: *muffled agreement, has a mouth full of jerkey and barley*

Seph: It's NOT tea. *turns back on mug and goes back to work*

Denpup: *razz* Might wanna get that stick removed, Seph! *turns attention to nomphing*

Sephy: *scowling at his mug's contents. Found the beef jerkey chunks when one wound up in his mouth*

Leon: *trying to figure out if this is a delayed April Fool's joke*

Aerith: *looking for a spoon*

Aeris: *sipping the tea, will search for a spoon later*

Squall: *having lunch. Not saying a word*

Kimahri: *offers Legacy a mug, elbowing Lumen as he does so*

Legacy: Thanks, Kimahri. *small smile*

Lumen: What smells good?

Kimahri: No tea for Lumen. *looks around to see if he's missed anyone*

Lumen: Aww. Why not? *pout*

Kimahri: *gives him a look for asking something so stupid, then nods to where a huge hunk of boiled jerky sits on a plate next to a heap of barley and a bottle of ketchup*

Legacy: *amused headshake*

Lumen: Ooo.

Mabyn: Best afternoon tea I ever et. *drinking the remains of her mugfull*

Denpup: Mmhm. *happy derp*

Kimahri: *waits for it. Waits forit*

Dennis: *bursts into the room* I'm hun... EEP! *big mug right there at face level*

Denpup: *sputters and coughs*

Dennis: *blink blink* I smell beef... And tea.

Kimahri: Is afternoon tea. *still offering*

Dennis: It smells good. *will accept the offered mug*

Kimahri: Watch for lumps. *goes to check on the yarn bin where Jenny is cuddling with Lola and bittyDB. Gets chattered at, but nobody seems inclined to leave the nest*

Lola: *is a happy fuzzeh*

bittyDB: *flirtin' with the ladies!* :D

Jenny: *makes her little smile sound as she peeks at Kimahri, but then shuts her eyes again*

Kimahri: *soft, rumbly chuckle, will move to sit down near the yarn bin*

Vneaht: *comes trotting in, sniffs the air, then stretches and goes to slurp from his dish. Surprised and pleased sound*

Mabyn: *pause* D'ye give the cat tea?

Kimahri: *soft chuckle* Broth.

Mabyn: *relaxes, murmuring about Vneaht being as bad as Lumen when on caffeine*

Vneaht: -Thrrrpt.- *slurp slurp slurp!*

Kimahri: *quiet amusement*

Bumblebee: *darts in with the mail* Okay, who would be expecting a parcel from the Fantastic Fish breedable adoptable game?

Yuffie: *looks up from her tea* Did my babies come in?

Bumblebee: *looks up from the little box and blinks at her* If baby goldfish came in this box, they're cat food.

Yuffie: *sets her mug where it won't get tipped over, is coming to retrieve her package* They're not real fish, doofus.

Bumblebee: ...I knew that. *gives box*

Denpup: Faaail. *nomph*

Yuffie: *scoots over to where she set her mug down, is soon opening the package*

Bumblebee: *will peeeek over there as he accepts his can of teatime fuel*

Yuffie: *pleased sound as she sees five red and yellow swirled clay fish* Sweet! I was hoping they'd wind up swirled!

Bumblebee: They look something like that fish you wear on a necklace sometimes.

Yuffie: That's the mama fish. *bit of a grin* They're colored like the dad fish.

Bumblebee: ...How are they mom and dad?

Yuffie: I bought the mama fish a mate.

Bumblebee: I'm confused. *big eyes plead for explanation*

Yuffie: *will get out the card that came with the fish she sometimes wears on her necklace and offer it to Bumblebee*

Bumblebee: *reads card, then lifts brows* This is something like those pompom foxes from that store in the mall, only with giant fake goldfish crackers.

Yuffie: ... Foxes?

Denpup: *heard that* Who's got foxes?

Bumblebee: This store in the mall. I saw it the other day, but I didn't go in. It had a sign in the window talking about how you played, and a list of the litters that are for sale. *offers card back to Yuffie*

Denpup: ... Eeee!

Dennis: *looks up* ... I don't want to know. *back to tea!*

Yuffie: *will put the card back in the drawer it came out of* Huh...

Bumblebee: *perks* Hey, it's break time, right?

Yuffie: Yup. That's why we're not working right now.

Bumblebee: I could show you that store. *grins as he looks from Yuffie to Den*

Denpup: Let's go then. *grin*

Bumblebee: Okay! *slams back his energy and is half way out the door before he wonders aloud if there had been lumps in that*

Mabyn: *face. Palm*

Denpup: *laughing muchly now as she follows Bumblebee*

Yuffie: *amused headshake, will work on filling out her new babies' registration forms*

Bumblebee: *on the street/wider path on the other side of the factory's lawn, transformed to alt mode* Goin' my way, bosslady?

Denpup: *laughs* You know that pick-up line only works when it's used by my boyfriend, right, 'Bee?

Bumblebee: ...Pick up line?

Denpup: *nods* Yeah, like for flirting with girls.

Bumblebee: WHAT?? Iwasn'tdoingthat!

Denpup: *trying so hard not to laugh* Yup. It's one used a lot in the reality I'm from. *sagely nod*

Bumblebee: Well I'm NOT flirting! Hmmph.

Denpup: Chill, 'Bee. I wasn't saying you were. I was just pointing out an observation.

Bumblebee: *would probably wibble if he were in root mode* Do your seatbelt up.

Denpup: 'Kay. *buckling up* *absently* I wonder if Prowl needs any more materials for that project he started earlier.

Bumblebee: I don't know. I offered to help and he chased me off, even though I brought him his story of the month club parcel.

Denpup: Wonder if it's got anything to do with the Showtime he's been taking care of.

Bumblebee: *driving toward the mall* I don't know. Hey, look. Mad King Ludwig's castle is over on the other side of the park, where the Wilybot warehouse used to usually be.

Denpup: Mad King Ludwig? *leans and looks* Oooo, pretty!

Bumblebee: ...It's always been around. Just not in that spot. *glances at the turrets and spires rising up over the forest in the park* Wonder if that means there's a honkin' big valley over there now too.

Denpup: Dunno... *grin*

Bumblebee: Well I'm not gonna go see. I've had enough of nature. *cheery horn toot as he passes Mirden heading home along the road*

Mirden: *startles and growls before she can stop herself*

Denpup: *facepalm*

Bumblebee: *as he clears the forested area* ...What'd I do?

Denpup: Mirden's still worrying over Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, and Skywarp. Plus, she was distracted by something... *says the ADHD Queen*

Bumblebee: I was just being friendly. Ooooo. Mall! *speeds up slightly as the colossal building comes into sight*

Denpup: Yaaay!

Bumblebee: *arrives and transforms with style, his boss landing in his hands* :D

Denpup: *'yeep's as she's caught. STILL not used to that*

Bumblebee: *sets her down carefully and heads for the door* There were lumps in that energon tea, weren't there?

Denpup: Prolly, if Kimahri was trying to find an equivalent for the tea the rest of us got.

Bumblebee: *looks down with sceptical surprise* He gave everyone lumpy tea?

Denpup: It had beef jerky chunks, some butter, and cooked barley. It was good. *grin*

Bumblebee: o.0 You can put that stuff in tea? *waves to a passing alternate*

Denpup: *nod nod* Yup. Vneaht got broth instead of actual tea though.

Bumblebee: Is tea bad for cats? *heads for the teleportal that brings people to the second floor*

Denpup: Ever see Lu on a caffeine buzz? And what's that?

Bumblebee: Uh. Think so? And what's what? *looking down at her as he walks along*

Denpup: *points at the portal* That.

Bumblebee: Ohhh. That's the thingie for going to the second floor, or another section of the mall. You just tell it where you wanna go.

Denpup: ...Oh.

Bumblebee: *steps into the little room and waits for her to join him*

Denpup: *follows, absently checking for her purse*

Bumblebee: *grins at her, then looks at the ceiling of the portal* Up.

scenery outside door: *changes, with no other sign of having gone anywhere*

Denpup: ... Oooo.

Bumblebee: *grins and steps out, then pauses* Oh, that game store says it's got some kind of breedable pet game too.

Denpup: *looks* We'll have to stop there on our way back.

Bumblebee: Okay. *looks around* Wanna ride? Or do you want to walk?

Denpup: I'll walk.

Bumblebee: Suit yourself. *happy grin as he waves at some more friends over there, then turns a corner, and there is the shop*

shop: *picture in the window. A fox doll made from pompoms, and with floppy knitted arms and legs, also has knitted ears, eyes, and nose. Fox is a foot tall, and the caption above it on the picture says, "Forest Fox adoptions"*

Bumblebee: *chuckle* That's not where I found this last time.

Denpup: Eeee!!! Foxes!!! *scoots over to the store*

Bumblebee: *starts to follow, but then gets distracted by an alternate of his own tech. Starts talking table top game*

Denpup: *entering the shop*

shop: *is small and narrow. Set up to look like a pet shop, with little cubicles along both side walls barred with wooden dowel bars*

girl: *looks up from where she's flopped and knitting in a massive beanbag chair behind the counter. The dreaded curly hair of a boy can be seen behind her* Hi!

Denpup: Hi. You guys sell pompom foxes?

girl: *chuckles* Look in the cages.

Denpup: *looks, grin* Eeee! So cute!

girl: *chuckles* Females are on the right side, and males are on the left. The colour of the tag on their cage door tells you which litter they're from. Don't take more than one out at a time, okay? Somebody came in here the other day and had them all switched around.

Denpup: *small nod, will read the various tags, absently clicking the sparklet word for 'friend' as she goes*

girl: *curiously* What are you saying?

boy: *without turning* It's something Transformer. *has a deep, nice voice*

Denpup: *blink blink* Oh... Um... I've just heard sparklets say it a lot... no idea what it means.

boy: *snort of laughter* Watch out. Babies cuss.

girl: *elbows him in the head and keeps on knitting*

boy: *laughs more*

Denpup: So do grownups, but not as often. *soft squee as she spots a fox she really likes*

girl: *looks up* Which one is that?

Denpup: It's one that's a couple different shades of blue. *grin*

girl: *laughs* Well, the wrappers said silver. But why can't she be blue?

Denpup: Well, why not? *more grin*

girl: *chuckles* Go ahead and take her out. Bring her card up here to the front?

Denpup: *nods and moves to do so, carefully*

card: *slips easily from the holder on the wall of the little toy cage*

fox: *floppy and soft and cuddly*

Denpup: *happy little sounds as she brings the card and the fox up to the front* *is very gentle as she sets the fox and the card down on the counter* ... She needs a friend. *nod nod*

boy: Just a friend? *chuckle*

girl: *elbows him in the head again*

Denpup: *amused snerk, will move to look at the boy foxes*

girl: *sets her knitting down and then gets up and lifts a huge old fashioned ledger book up onto the counter beside the fox. Flips to a page and then runs her finger down it* Do you know what her name is? *up by the counter, her well trained accent is clear. As is the faint trace of the South that colours it*

Denpup: *small headshake* She'll tell me when she's ready to do so.

girl: Alright. Let us know, for her registration papers. How about a name for you? *looks up with a grin, her green eyes friendly*

Denpup: *looks up from studying one of the boy foxes* My name's Den. *smile*

girl: Oh. You live around here?

Denpup: *nod* Near the subdivision, in the round, blue house.

boy: *without turning* We got our blankets from your factory.

Denpup: *small grin* Cool. How do you like them?

boy: They do the job. *sound of a grin in his voice*

girl: *smiling too*

Denpup: I'm glad. *means it* *very slight headtilt* Do you two live in the Nexus, too?

girl: Oh yes. We have a room behind the shop. Since we don't need much storage space that's plenty.

boy: Sister sleeps in the sitting room at night, and I sleep out here.

Denpup: *small nod, then her attention's going to one of the boy foxes* Awww, he's got a bit of white on his face! How cute!

girl: *perks and grins* Look at his nose.

Denpup: *squee* He's got freckles!

girl: *laughs* Yes. I thought it wouldn't be too unlikely an occurrence, if foxes were to ever become house pets like cats and dogs.

Denpup: *blink blink* In some realities, they've started domesticating foxes. I saw it in a magazine.

girl: *pauses with surprise* They have?

Denpup: *nods* The reality I'm from, they have, and I know of at least one other reality where they're domesticating foxes.

girl: And they're really domestic? Not just tamed?

Denpup: *nods* Yeah. They've been bred for temperament and to not be wary of humans. *big grin* And some have flop ears when they're babies, and some have curly tails, and they all wag their tails. *squee*

girl: Ohhh. *looks over her shoulder at her brother, plainly comes from a culture where the man is head of the household*

boy: Do you know how much they cost?

Denpup: *headshake* I'll have to ask Wesson the next time I see him. Then again, the pet shop here in the Nexus might have a couple...

girl: *surprised lifting of her brows* There's a pet shop here?

Denpup: *nods* I go by it sometimes when I'm on my way to get groceries.

boy: We'll have to go look. I think that a little fox would be a nice friend for this shop.

girl: *is one of those blondes that blushes with happiness, and she's doing it now as her eyes shine*

Denpup: *grin* Shiny. *will tilt her head a bit, before nodding and moving to get the orange boy fox with the freckled nose out* I think this mister will be a good friend for Roxanne.

girl: Roxanne is the name for the girl? *looks down at the book, fountain pen poised to write*

Denpup: *nods as she moves to bring the orange boy and his card up to the front* Yeah... *small smile*

girl: *writes carefully, her script a perfect old fashioned copperplate* Any idea about Mr. Blaze there?

Denpup: *considering look* Garret.

girl: *grins and writes carefully, then chuckles as she sees how the little foxes wound up after Den put them down*

foxes: *nose to nose*

Denpup: *bit of a squee as she sees that*

girl: *to the dolls* You two had better remember that you're not old enough to be setting up housekeeping yet.

Denpup: *slight snicker* I'll make sure they behave.

girl: *smiles, and then brings up a cute little booklet with a glossy blue cover* This is your membership and owner's manual.

Denpup: *grin* Cool. *gets her coin purse/billfold out* How much do I owe?

girl: *takes up another book* Twenty eight dollars and fifteen cents for the foxes, and fifteen for activating your membership. *looks up to see if Den's alright with that*

Denpup: *small nod, will get out two twenties and offer them*

girl: *quick scratching of writing, and then goes to a box to get the right change*

Denpup: *happy little sounds as she gently pets her foxes*

girl: *smiles as she offers the change* Do you need a box to carry them in?

Denpup: Might be a good idea...

boy: *on his feet and going into the back. Returns with a standard inexpensive cardboard pet carrier in his hands, which he's swiftly assembling*

Denpup: How much?

girl: *states the price that the boxes sell at wholesale*

Denpup: *nods* Okay. *will get more money out to pay for the box as well*

boy: *box all built, bends down and picks up a piece of fleece that was once clearly part of a shirt and uses it to line the box* There you go. *sets the box on the counter and then grins at Den, his green eyes dancing from under the shadow of his blond dreds*

Denpup: *grin* Shiny.

girl: Alright. *looks up herself, smiling* They're all yours, Miss.

Denpup: Thanks. *will move to gently tuck the foxes into the box*

girl: *tucks their pedigree cards into the back of the blue booklet, and then offers it* Thanks for stopping by.

Denpup: I'm sure I'll be back. *takes the booklet and puts it into her purse, then grins and moves to head out of the shop, box in hand*

Bumblebee: *right where she left him, yakking a mile a minute with his alternate*

Denpup: *amused headshake* So where's the other shop that sells adoptables?

Bumblebee: *looks down* Oh right! *looks back to his friend* I gotta go. The boss is getting some new games.

otherBee: Okay. See you on game night! Remember, it's your turn to bring snacks.

Bumblebee: In your dreams. *snerks as he turns to go* I brought snacks last time.

Denpup: *snerk*

Bumblebee: *starts chattering away at her about the other Bumblebee as he leads her back to where the gaming shop stands proudly*

Denpup: *nods and follows along, asking a few questions along the way*

Bumblebee: *goes right into this shop. It's big enough, and it also has the books for the game that he likes to play* I'll be right over there, bosslady.

Denpup: 'Kay. *moves to wander about the shop*

shop: *big, with a second floor and happy nerds scattered all about*

girl: *big twisty gauged earrings in her lobes, beautiful little delicate wire elf tips at the tops of her ears* Can I help you find anything?

Denpup: What adoptables do y'all carry?

girl: *teal eyes-the only visible sign that she's not a base Earth human- crinkle slightly at the corners* You mean like our breedable adoptable game?

Denpup: *nod nod* Yeah.

girl: *chuckles and turns to point to where a computer system is sitting in pride of place among a cluster of monitors, binders, and card displays* That's right there. Do you need a hand with it?

Denpup: ... I might.

girl: *lifts her voice* Hey, Sheldon!

sleek, green head: *pokes over a railing from the floor above* Yo?

girl: *points over her shoulder to Den* She wants to look at the Critter Cards.

Denpup: *nod nod of agreement*

Sheldon: *grins, his wide mouth showing broad teeth, then pulls his head back and flips over the railing to land near the girls on his feet* *yes, Den, it's a turtle. In an Optimus Prime T-shirt and baggy cargo pants*

girl: *uncrosses her arms to reveal that her shirt proclaims her a Legolas fangirl* Ack!

Denpup: *also acks*

Sheldon: *after a pause that shows he feared worse reactions he's grinning again* So, you wanna play Critter Cards, huh?

girl: *without anger* Jerk. *wanders off*

Denpup: *once she's over the shock of Sheldon flipping over the railing, she's nodding* Yup.

Sheldon: *charming grin, is obviously just a regular young guy in his early twenties, with dancing blue eyes* If you'll walk this way. *exaggerated funny walk as he heads for the computer station*

Denpup: *snerks and moves to follow, though she'll also imitate how Sheldon's walking*

Sheldon: *gets to the computer and starts typing on a keyboard, then looks over his shoulder and snerks* Righteous!

Denpup: *laughs muchly and grins* *innocently* I take it you had a meet-up with the ooze?

Sheldon: *laughs out loud* Nope. *wide grin* I'm original second gen.

Denpup: *blink blink, grin* Shiny.

Sheldon: *still grinning as he turns back to the typing* I'm really Mikey Junior, but who wants to be stuck with that?

Denpup: ... I'm sure there's some nutbar out there who might.

Sheldon: Well I like Sheldon better. Here you go. This shows the three basic species. You have the unicorn, the battle warg, and the man-eating plant. *steps aside so she can see the monitor more easily* These are just foundation level. We've already got several established breeds that make these look way lame.

Denpup: Ooo... *will read about each of the pet species, and then she's cackling*

Sheldon: *Den's cackling makes him grin widely once more* Want me to show you any specimens of any certain species?

Denpup: *grinning* I'd like to see the man-eating plant species.

Sheldon: *hand goes toward a stack of binders* Any certain breed or generation?

Denpup: *considering look* Well... How about a variety from each generation?

Sheldon: But no certain breed?

Denpup: *nod* 'Cause don't they all have their own individual strengths and weaknesses?

Sheldon: Well, some of the breeds have actually been bred for certain battle stats. *reaching for a slightly different pile and getting a binder from about the center of it*

Denpup: *blink* ... Huh. Well, I still want a variety from the available generations. *certain about that*

Sheldon: No established champs? *opening binders and laying them out for her perusal*

Denpup: *as she studies the available critters* Where's the fun in going with the known?

Sheldon: *rotten grin for the chance to be able to say this* They make good babies.

Denpup: *cackle*

Sheldon: *more grin!*

Denpup: *once she's stopped cackling and has caught her breath, she'll point to a couple of different man-eating plants*

Sheldon: *looks at her choices* Wow, you really like Bluebombers, huh?

Denpup: Bluebombers?

Sheldon: Yeah. *pulls out the two cards she picked and then opens one up to read the stats* They spit. And it explodes. They use it to herd things closer to their other mouths. This is one of our oldest breeds.

Denpup: ... Eww. *cackle*

Sheldon: *looks up, his grin firmly in place along with the dancing of his eyes* Changed your mind?

Denpup: Nope. *will study some of the other plants, before pointing at one of the tiny, meek-looking green plants on another page* What're these?

Sheldon: *snerks* Peepers. Bred by the same guy that's responsible for Pocket Wargs.

Denpup: What do they do?

Sheldon: Sit there and look cute and peep, and then bite your leg off.

Denpup: *cackle* Ok. That's awesome. *and then she's getting a dirty rotten stinker grin on her face* Got anything that looks really toothy and scary?

Sheldon: *reaches for one of the champion books, and shows her a monstrous horror of orange, green, and yellow that barely fits on its card* This is Mindy Lou. Grab her now, because most chompers of her breed never make it back to the shop.

Denpup: *nod nod* *considers the critter cards she's already picked out* That should be enough for now... *grin* *is totally going to chase Lumen through the factory later with Mindy Lou*

Sheldon: *wide grin as he reaches for another binder from the pile that Den picked her Bluebombers and Peepers from* But the mongrels are so cute. *opens books and shows plants of every description*

Denpup: Oooo...

Sheldon: You like blue and orange right? *wild guess*

Denpup: *nod nod* Yeah. *grin*

Sheldon: *flips through the book, showing her plants of those colours, always choosing ones with good high stats*

Denpup: *absent hum as she studies the plants*

Sheldon: *and then grumbles as he flips through another binder and a card bearing the stunningly beautiful image of a red and blue, cardinal winged unicorn falls out of it* Darn n00bs that can't put things back where they belong.

Denpup: Ooo, pretty. *reaches for the card*

Sheldon: *surprised look as he hands it to her* It's a Tiger Stripe Billycorn.

Denpup: It's pretty. *grin*

unicorn: *flowing mane, and a tail that is lionlike but bears hair along its length*

Sheldon: Yeah, they are, I guess. *plainly a guy more geared toward the macabre*

Denpup: How much for everything I picked out? *is including the Billycorn in that*

Sheldon: *counts* Two Bluebombers for five bucks each. A Peeper for seven. Mindy Lou is twenty eight. Billycorns go for ten. *quizzical look to see if that's everything and she's okay with it*

Denpup: *nods and moves to get money out of her purse* And how much would a small binder be?

Sheldon: You want just a standard card binder? Or do you want one for Card Critters specifically? *pauses to shoot an elastic at a young Lamia as she goes past* *gets hissed at* *laughs*

Denpup: One for Card Critters specifically.

Sheldon: *closes the book he was holding and turns to leave the computer station* *over to the back of the shop, and takes down a shiny blue binder with the game name and an image of a man eating plant in glitter glue* Five bucks.

other guy: *looks over and snorts* She doesn't want that crapheap you made, Sheldon.

Denpup: *stinkeye for the other guy* Yes, I do. It's blue and shiny.

guy: *meeps and hides behind a rack of busty anime girl figures*

Sheldon: *silent cackling*

Denpup: *rolls her eyes and looks to Sheldon* All together, that's $60 before tax, right?

Sheldon: No tax. *smirk* But yeah.

Denpup: Shiny. *will get three twenties out of her purse*

Sheldon: Here, let's go up to the cash register. *turns to head that way* *blink! Frown* Bumblebee! You better not be copying those books again!

Bumblebee: I'm not! And I never have!

Sheldon: *blushes and scratches his head* They're so hard to tell apart.

Denpup: At first glance, yeah. Spend enough time around the yellow derps, and ya start to be able to tell the differences... Even if they're about as subtle as Bumblebee isn't. *grins*

Sheldon: They all look identical when they're that intent on a book. *still blushing as he starts toward the long counter at the front of the store*

Denpup: At least it's a book, and not the tv. *moves to follow*

Bumblebee: Thrrpt! *hugging the book he'd been looking at to his chest now. Den will be able to read that it is a collection of game storylines with a steampunk setting*

Sheldon: Thrrpt!

Bumlebee: *blinks, and then the hurt fades from his face and he's laughing*

Denpup: *snerk* 'Bee, you are such a goober. *chuckles and moves to pay for her items* *will also try and stealthpay for the book, just 'cause she wants to*

Sheldon: *sees what yur doin' thar, Den! Hand drifts toward some chibi keychains... Ninja Turtle, Generator Gawl, MLP... Watching her eyes as his hand gets near each character in turn. Then puts the Generator Gawl chibi on her pile* Do you have a shopping bag?

Denpup: *unclips one of the ones on her belt loop and offers it*

Sheldon: *opens the bag with a snap and a flourish, then carefully puts the cards into her new binder before slipping everything into the bag* There you go. Have an awesome day. :D

Denpup: *grin* Thanks. *will reach for the bag*

Sheldon: *gives, then calls to a young man who is just heading for the door* Jamal, this's the blanket factory lady. Why don't you carry her parcels home 'n pick up some decent blankets?

Jamal: *darkly handsome, with stunning gem bright ruby eyes. Looks over, startled*

Sheldon: *to Den* He's a genie. Somebody banished him from the world before, like, even bothering to find out what side he was on. He's crashin' over on the lost highway, but he needs to buy some stuff to make his place, like, more comfy.

Denpup: *nod nod* *small smile* We've also got rag bunnies.

Jamal: *comes over, his manner deferential, shy, and sad* I don't think I will be needing a rag bunny. But cold is a distracting thing.

Denpup: *nod* We've got plenty of blankets to choose from, in every color I could find yarn or fleece in.

Jamal: *shyly holds out a hand for her bag* I do not mind the colour, so long as they are warm and I can wash them as I am supposed to.

Denpup: *will give the bag* Even the lacework ones are warm. I use one in my hammock on all but the very warmest nights here, and I tend to run cold most days.

Jamal: *and here is a shy, but very sweet smile* I look forward to buying a few, my lady.

Sheldon: *facepalm* Jamal, you dork. What did I say about that?

Jamal: *winces and blushes*

Bumblebee: *over at another till* What, really? It's free? Thanks!

Denpup: *glances over at Bumblebee and grins*

lamia: *grins back at Bee* Well, you could give a fangirl a hug?

Bumblebee: *pauses* Fangirl? You? Okay!

lamia: *laughs as she's picked up and gently hugged*

Denpup: *more grin* He's such a goofball.

Jamal: *wistful as he watches*

Sheldon: *snerk* Fangirls're scary. *sounded JUST like his dad as a teenager when he said that*

Denpup: *brat grin for Sheldon* We're not THAT bad. Well, unless you're an Italian-American Voice Actor, at an anime convention where over 1, 000 people are... *eyes sparkling with mischief*

Sheldon: ... 0_0 You're HER?

Jamal: What... *looks from one to the other with confusion*

Denpup: *cacklefit*

Sheldon: *looks around* *then shakes his head* I'll holler and let everyone know the next time you come in.

Denpup: *wheeze, headshake*

Sheldon: But for now you better show Jamal where to get the good covers, so he can have a decent night's sleep, yo. *grin*

Denpup: *catching her breath and nodding*

Jamal: *reaches for her bag again, his other hand tentatively going toward the fox box*

Denpup: *blinks and offers the box* Lemme go tell 'Bee that we're ready to go.

Bumblebee: *prattling away now to the pretty girl wrapped around his shoulders*

Sheldon: *snerks*

Jamal: As you wish, my lady. *slight smile that is far sweeter than any boy's smile has a right to be*

Denpup: *scoots over to poke Bumblebee's leg* *bit of a brat grin* You done flirting, or do you want to hang out a bit longer?

Bumblebee: *startles and looks down* Uh. My break ends when yours does, bosslady.

lamia: *chuckles and gives him a little squeeze, then a kiss on the cheek before sliding down to the floor*

Bumblebee: *SO. MUCH. BLUSH*

Denpup: *laughing muchly now*

lamia: *elbows the girl with the gauges when the latter teases her* I just need to find something that cute in a squishy model.

gauge girl: *laughs like Denpup*

Denpup: *cacklefit, wheeze*

Bumblebee: *scootgone!*

Jamal: *blinks at the sudden breeze*

Sheldon: *also cackling now*

Denpup: *catching her breath again*

lamia: *heads up the stairs with dignity*

Sheldon: *distracted as another coworker brings over a bunny eraser doll and shows him how its clothes stay on by a post that seems to stabbity through the heart* Whoa...

Denpup: *amused headshake, will move to bring Jamal to the blanket factory*

Jamal: *responds to the farewells of his coworkers, and then walks beside Den through the teleportal and out of the mall, then along the street toward her neighbourhood. Eyes are drawn to the towers of the castle showing over the trees as he goes*

Denpup: *happily rambling about the various things in the Nexus as she walks*

Jamal: Have you seen the bridge over the new valley?

Denpup: *blink blink, headshake* No...

Jamal: It is gnome work- an arch of metal that crosses the abyss in one grand leap. And it is strong enough to hold Blackout and her whole army were they to wish to cross over it. Tucked on the underside of the span is a cluster of small houses and hanging walkways, where the bridge tenders live.

Denpup: Oooo, cool. *grin*

Jamal: And down below the castle, on the very mountainside that it is built on, there are rice terraces, and the homes of the people who put them there.

Denpup: Heh... There's a place for everyone.

Jamal: *sadness shows on his face and he looks away* *quietly* Especially for those who have no place anywhere else.

Denpup: *gentle patpat*

Jamal: *startles and looks at her, but then gives her a hint of that sweet smile and looks away again*

Lumen: *standing on the factory roof with a brand new prize* *MOAR COWBELL!*

Jamal: *wincing* What is he doing?

Denpup: *dryly* Enjoying his new bell.

Kimahri: *shoves noisy son off roof*

Lumen: Ack! *lands in a crouch* *checks for bell*

bell: *is a hat! Muffled clank as it lands*

Jamal: o.0

Lumen: Ack!

Denpup: *snickerfitdie*

Lumen: Oh, yeah?!

Jamal: *senses Den's sudden wish and stops to hold out the bag containing her Card Critters*

Denpup: *dirty rotten grin, will get her Card Critters out, and then she's chasing Lumen around with Mindy Lou*

Lumen: AAAAHHHHH!!!! SHE'S GONNA EAAAT MEEEEEEEEEE!!!! *laughing and running*

Denpup: GET BACK HERE SO I CAN BITE YOUR KNEECAPS!!! *cackle*

Jamal: *watches for a moment, and then goes into the blanket factory to ask someone there where he should put the packages*

Aeris: *manning the ordering/customer service desk today*

Jamal: These things belong to Mistress Den. Where should... *pauses as he sees the girl behind the counter and feels some of what she's feeling. Slight chin tensing and a sending of sympathy and understanding*

Aeris: *looks up from re-organizing the catalog* Den's desk should be fine... *small, shy smile as she picks up on his sending*

Jamal: *stumbles over his words just a little as he's distracted by how pretty that smile is* Will you show me where that desk is, my lady?

Aeris: *nods, moving to get up* Sure.

Leon: *was just coming over to remind Aeris to go take her lunch*

Jamal: *doesn't notice that man. His shining eyes- full of admiration and wonder- are firmly on Aeris as he follows her toward Den's desk* *quietly and shyly* Thank you.

Aeris: You're welcome. *more smile* Did Den get more adoptables?

Jamal: *nods and quietly tells Aeris about each of the Card Critters that Den chose, and what she's doing with the one with the finest pedigree*

Aeris: *hand to mouth to stifle her giggle*

Seph: *FUMING. With a Yuffie on his back*

Jamal: *pauses as he senses that frustrated embarrassment and anger* What...?

Aeris: *looks* Yuffie, let Seph go, please.

Yuffie: Awww... Alright. *will let go of Seph and head off to water her geraniums*

Jamal: Why does she like to anger him? *watching the girl go*

Aeris: *quietly* I'm not even sure...

Jamal: *slowly* I... do not think that she is, either. *looks at the desk they've stopped beside and carefully sets the box and the bag on it* *can't help a slight grin as Lumen and Den suddenly go tearing in through the loading bay and out the front door*

Aeris: *slight start as Den and Lumen go tearing past*

Jamal: *hand on her shoulder before he thinks* They are happy. Even though the young man is also slightly frightened.

Aeris: I will never understand those two...

Jamal: *concerned now as he picks something up from his contact with her. Softly* You are hungry, my lady.

Aeris: *sheepish expression is a go*

Jamal: *hesitantly, a bit shocked at his own daring even as he makes the offer* I have learned a wonderful thing to do with flat bread, vegetables, and spices. It is called stew.

Aeris: *shy smile* That sounds nice.

Jamal: *hesitates now, softly sending his uncertainty as to whether he should invite her to his rather rough and unpolished home to cook the meal for her, or find out if she has a place to cook*

Aeris: *quietly* I live close by, if you don't mind walking...

Jamal: *surprised* Who would mind walking?

Aeris: *and there's that shy smile again* Yuffie would ride home on Seph's back if she thought she could get away with it.

Jamal: *sideways look that is sweet with its innocent wonder* *after a moment of thought* The young lady needs a proper mount, I guess. But walking is still a fair way to travel.

Aeris: *nods* I agree.

Jamal: *finds a rock on the path the abrupt way and stumbles a bit* Oh! Though I have not yet mastered the sport, it seems.

Aeris: *meeps quietly and moves to fuss over Jamal* Are you alright?

Jamal: *confused by the fussing and distressed that he upset the lady* *not sure what to say!* I...

Aeris: *making sure Jamal isn't hurt*

Jamal: *blushing now, though it doesn't show on his skin* I am not hurt, my lady. Forgive me for upsetting you.

Aeris: *relieved smile* I'm alright... I'm glad you're not hurt.

Jamal: *rubs the back of his neck, absently telling his excited little sister that he'll talk to her soon as she lets him know that Scattor has found her a home* Yes, my lady. *then startles slightly as blue sparkles happen and he's suddenly got his arms full of delicious tangy Ethiopian flat bread, veggies, and spice jars* o.o

Aeris: *surprised squeak is a go*

Jamal: Ahh. Scattor has done the shopping for us. *looks at the packages with surprise*

Aeris: Oooh. *smile* That was nice of him.

Jamal: Yes. *blushing again as he looks up from the packages with that shy smile, his ruby eyes bright with it* He has done so much for us already.

Aeris: Scattor is a good person. *smile* Even if he likes to joke around sometimes.

Jamal: *smile grows a bit* My sister and I would not be alive now if not for him.

Aeris: *will gently reach for his arm, intending to bring him home. Is just a bit uncomfortable with the idea of death*

Jamal: *feels her discomfort and drops the subject, instead seeing if he can amuse her with stories about the antics of his coworkers as he follows her home and then uses the comfortable Brownstone kitchen to prepare a delicious Ethiopian style meal rich in lentils and onions*


back at the plant


Kimahri: *waiting by the front door. Can feel that a being that he views nearly like a brother wants an audience with him*

Scattor: *appears and hands him a beautifully jewelled bottle* One wish granted.

Kimahri: ... *smiles*

((Written with random_xtras))