Backwater Nexus. Final Fantasy Brownstone. New Relationships

[dens_extra_pups]

Tadashi: *stops in front of the door to the building that Hormah told him that most of the blanket factory crew live in and lifts a hand to ring the button, only to feel his courage fail and the lack thereof freeze him in place on the doorstep* *wince wince, shift the case that's hanging over his shoulder*

Yuffie: *in a MOOD as she comes back from dropping her delivery backpack off at the blanket factory*

Tadashi: *unaware of anything around him, he's cranked up his courage! And holding his breath as he lifts his hand to ring the bell*

Yuffie: ... *frown* Who are you?

Tadashi: *hits the bell as he startles convulsively. Also squeaks!* *and then he's stumbling against the railing and gasping, because he just wrenched sore muscles*

Yuffie: ... Aside from a klutz.

Tadashi: *turns toward the girl's voice, trying to blink the water out of his eyes* *strained voice* My name's Tadashi Hamada. I heard you were in the market for a pet and transport. *Yuffie will see tousled hair, a pale face, bandages sticking up from under his shirt, and soft brown eyes full of ouch tears*

Yuffie: ...Who told you we were looking? *moving to try and herd Tadashi inside. If he's hurt, then he shouldn't be outside!*

Tadashi: *as he's herded inside* Hormah told me. She said you told her you wouldn't have twisted your ankle the other day if you'd had your own transport. *soft meep as he pauses and looks at the silver-haired guy with the deep scowl* ...Hi?

Yuffie: *stinkeyes Sephiroth*

Sephiroth: *intercepts your stinkeye and returns one hairy eyeball*

Yuffie: Sephiroth, get out of here. *do you really want to risk cheesing people off tonight, Sephiroth?*

Sephiroth: The computer will only play your stupid cat game.

Tadashi: o.0;

Yuffie: *one with her facepalm* *from behind her hand* One. That is MY computer. Two. MY COMPUTER.

Sephiroth: *still the scowl* I need to check Netflix.

Yuffie: *hand down, expression black* GET YOUR OWN COMPUTER, YOU STUPID *BLEEPING* JERK!

Tadashi: *quail chick!*

Sephiroth: *gone!*

Yuffie: *grumble, will go to get a couple mugs and start some tea*

Tadashi: *hunkers there by the door and contemplates running away now while he has a chance*

Sephy: *sticks his head into the room* She leveled. You don't need to do the grinding now.

Yuffie: *twitch* QUIT TOUCHING MY COMPUTER!

Sephy: *practically, as he sets it on the counter beside her* I did it as a gift for you, because you were complaining about the grinding.

Yuffie: *grumble, curse, slams cupboard doors*

Sephy: *goes to look down the stairs toward the door* ...Is your friend hurt?

Yuffie: His name's Tadashi. He's not my friend, and I saw bandages...

Sephy: *will jog down the stairs*

Tadashi: *muffled yelp*

Sephy: *concern very clear in his voice*

Tadashi: *trying to reassure the man*

Sephy: *as he comes toward the top of the stairs* You're shaking.

Yuffie: *getting the mugs with tea set up at the kitchen table. Decided to make Sephy a mug, too* Here. I got tea ready.

Sephy: *looks up from Tadashi and frowns deeply* You're limping.

Tadashi: Limping? *turns his head and also frowns* Have you been walking a lot? *soft grunt as Sephy sits him in the kitchen chair with arms*

Yuffie: It's not a big deal.

Tadashi: Hurting yourself is a big deal. You could do permanent damage to your tendons and muscles.

Sephy: *calm accusing look for Yuffie*

Yuffie: It's not that bad, really!

Sephy: You better sit down. *pauses to study her* I have red bean cakes and Hello Kitty marshmallows with jam.

Tadashi: *just perked without realizing it*

Yuffie: *perks and moves to sit down!* *then* Wait, when'd you have time to go to the mall?

Sephy: *stops in the act of turning to the cupboard to give her a quizzical look* My sister suggested I call Gawl.

Tadashi: *sets a dark pink plastic case on the table and absently studies it as he thinks about why he made it and its contents*

Yuffie: *snerks* That dork...

Sephy: *as he goes into the cupboard* Elijah's not a dork.

Yuffie: No, but Gawl is. I've seen him pasted on the side of the factory more times than I can count!

Sephy: *turns back with box and bag, and that box is not a brand name box, but one wearing the hand-written name of the cupcake shop!* Does that mean you're a dork too?

Yuffie: *thrrrpt. Sulk*

Sephy: *sets the box and bag on the table in front of her*

Tadashi: *quietly* This is good tea. *and he's awkwardly drinking it with his left hand*

Yuffie: *much grin as she spots the handwritten label on the box* Natsume's awesome... *to Tadashi* Den gives us the tea... She thinks she's a tea expert or something.

Tadashi: Well this one's got horsetail in it. That's good for bone strength.

Sephy: *interested glance* Are you a healer?

Tadashi: *shakes his head* Hormah says I'd be called a field medic around here.

Sephy: ... *isn't sure what the difference is, but doesn't feel like quibbling. Instead he settles in front of his cup of tea*

Yuffie: Den'd know more... *shrugs, will open the box and offer Tadashi one of the cupcakes*

Tadashi: *eyes widen as he carefully accepts the treat* *softly* It's iced!

Sephy: *tries to hide the smile caused by the younger man's wondering delight*

Yuffie: Natsume's really good at picking flavors that work together. *will nomph one of the cupcakes now*

Tadashi: *his answer is the soft sigh of a man who's found a piece of home as he tastes his cake*

Sephy: *gives him a compassionate look and then glances at Yuffie*

Yuffie: *has icing on her nose*

Sephy: *reaches over to fix that*

Yuffie: *awks*

Sephy: I'm sorry. Some of the frosting was on your nose.

Tadashi: *and now he's hiding a smile*

Yuffie: *mild annoyance* A little warning would'a been nice.

Sephy: *looks down* Sorry. Remember I'm new at this.

Tadashi: *curious glance*

Yuffie: *sigh* Whatever... *will open the bag now*

Tadashi: *eyes so big and hopeful as he watches*

Sephy: *distracted by sticking his finger into the icing on his cake, a slight smile of curiosity on his face*

Yuffie: *offers a handful of wrapped marshmallows to Tadashi*

Tadashi: *slight blush as he takes them* Thanks. *sets them down on the table and carefully spreads them out to look at them, his eyes unconsciously darkening with memory*

Sephy: *absently sticks his leg out to let Aeris's bat climb it*

Yuffie: *nomphing 'mallows now. And trying not to wince as her ankle reminds her that she's been on her feet all day*

Tadashi: *quietly* Do you mind if I look at your ankle?

Yuffie: *muffled* Why? It's fine.

Tadashi: *still quiet and gentle* It's swollen to twice the size of the other one.

Sephy: *looks down quickly and then levels a Look at Yuffie*

Yuffie: *hunkering down now*

Sephy: *firmly* You'd better let him look at it.

Yuffie: Fine...

Tadashi: *takes something off his belt* Hormah gave me this. I can look at it without touching you.

Sephy: That's a cellphone.

Tadashi: *looks at it and presses a button, then aims it toward his own chest* It has a medical scanner built in.

phone: *gentle male voice* Your burns are healing nicely, Tadashi. But your pulse rate is slightly elevated. Have you been exercising?

Tadashi: Something like that, Baymax.

Yuffie: ... Better not let Den see that. *amused*

Tadashi: *looks over with a slight smile* She's seen it. I picked it up the day she got her dalek.

Yuffie: She named that thing Frank.

Tadashi: Like Verity's little pony. *aims the phone at Yuffie's ankle and scowls slightly with concern* You've got a greenstick fracture.

Sephy: *distinct sound of ruffling feathers*

Yuffie: *much sulk*

Tadashi: *looks from Yuffie to Sephy* Do you guys keep wishes?

Yuffie: ... Maybe? I don't know... Aerith'd know, or maybe Squall or Leon.

Sephy: *as he leans down to pull a white fruit bat off his leg* Have we need of a wish?

Tadashi: It's that, or a visit to the hospital.

Sephy: *straightens in his chair and looks at Yuffie, absently scritching the bat*

Yuffie: *wide-eyed and a bit uneasy now*

Sephy: *quietly* You'd better call one of the others and ask them.

Tadashi: I have this. *phone* Hi, Mirden. Are you strong enough to put a cast on somebody's leg?

Mirden: //I think so. Who got hurt?//

Tadashi: It's Yuffie. She's got a greenstick fracture and a sprained ankle.

Mirden: //Give me a few minutes to get supplies.//

Tadashi: o.0 Okay. We're at the Brownstone.

Mirden: //I'll be there soon.//

Tadashi: Alright. Is there anything you need on this end?

Mirden: //Other than keeping Yuffie from trying to get away?// *sounds so amused*

Tadashi: *looks at Yuffie* Sure. No problem.

Mirden: *chuckles and hangs up*

Yuffie: ...What's that look for?

Tadashi: Do you know Mirden?

Yuffie: *snort* Everyone around here knows Mirden. She's the Worgen who lives in the woods.

Tadashi: Okay. Well, she's coming to take care of your leg, but I don't think she's wishing for it.

Sephy: *quietly watching Yuffie as he lets the bat play with his hand*

Yuffie: Prolly 'cause she's only about as strong as Aoife. Those two're the weakest Guardian Fae in the Nexus. *only knows this because one time, she asked Mirden about something and was informed that she'd have to talk to Scattor or Oppy about it, because they're stronger*

Tadashi: Yes, but I've seen Aoife make things. I didn't realize that Mirden wouldn't be able to do it too.

Yuffie: Mirden's weird.

Sephy: *quiet disagreement* She is herself. That doesn't make her strange.

Tadashi: *slight grin* What he said.

Yuffie: *rolls her eyes* Whatever.

Mirden: *ringing the doorbell*

Tadashi: *as Sephy gets up to answer the door* Oh yeah. This is for you. *pushes the dark pink case toward Yuffie*

Yuffie: *curious* What's this?

Tadashi: *sheepishly* Call for a kitty.

Yuffie: ... *raised brow* Here, kitty, kitty.

case: *pops open as something starts to expand from inside it*

Tadashi: Oops. I guess we should have set it on the floor first.

Yuffie: *surprised squeak*

thing: *continues to expand till what looks like a dark pink jumbo beach ball with cat-like ears and tail is looking around hopefully with its mouth in a little sad dip*

Yuffie: What the heck?

Tadashi: Like I said. I heard you needed a ride.

Yuffie: *surprised squeak*

thing: *squeaks back hopefully*

Tadashi: *rubs the back of his head* It's also got a basic pet program.

Sephy: Why is there a kawaii slime on the table, Yuffie?

Yuffie: ... How the *beep* do you know what that is, Sephy?

Mirden: *snerks*

Sephy: *looks at her funny from where he's standing in the doorway with Mirden* You wanted me to watch that game playthrough.

Yuffie: ... *crosses arms and huffs, ears turning red in her embarrassment*

Mirden: *so very amused*

Sephy: *patiently* Why is it on the table?

Yuffie: Because we didn't think to put it on the floor before activating it.

Sephy: It's sitting in your cake.

Tadashi: o.<.

Mirden: *snerks and uses her abilities to move the thing from the table to the floor, and clean it of cake*

Tadashi: *gentle hand on his burned shoulder* It's not actually a slime. It's a giant bouncy ball with simple AI, made to look like a pink tabby slime largo.

Sephy: Is that supposed to be its name?

Tadashi: Um, no. Yuffie hasn't named it yet.

thing: *bounces to Yuffie and nuzzles up against her*

Yuffie: *squeak*

Mirden: *amused* Think of a name for it while I work on your ankle.

Yuffie: *sulks and nods*

Tadashi: *looks crestfallen at Yuffie's reaction to the pet* *quietly* I guess I should get going. Thanks for the cake.

Sephy: *gives the younger man a thoughtful look*

Mirden: *to Tadashi* I'll walk you back to Hormah's. *setting to work on getting Yuffie's foot and ankle in a cast*

Tadashi: No. It'll take awhile to finish the cast. I'll be okay. *turns to the door*

Sephy: *quiet whisper to Yuffie's ear* He came here to court.

Yuffie: *SQUEAK! BLUSH*

Mirden: *startles*

Sephy: He thinks you're not interested.

Yuffie: *quieter* Why would he be interested in me? *is still a bit upset over Isamu just that morning telling her he wasn't interested in a relationship with her*

Sephy: *dead serious* There is no accounting for taste.

Yuffie: *swats at Sephy* You're a jerk. *sulk*

Sephy: *gentle squish for her face with his hand cupping her chin* Should I go after him?

Yuffie: *silent and still for a few moments, then she's nodding slightly*

Sephy: *gone in a wisp of silver hair*

Mirden: *to Yuffie, as she works* You still need to name your pet.

Yuffie: I'm still thinking.

Sephy: *comes in supporting a gasping and wobbling Tadashi*

Leon: *apologizing profusely as he also helps support Tadashi*

Mirden: *looks up from wrapping bandages and comfrey root paste* ...

Tadashi: *dazed and pale from pain* I'm... okay. Okay. I'm... okay.

Sephy: I'm calling Doctor Lucy.

Mirden: *to Yuffie* Stay put. *will move to help Sephy and Leon get Tadashi laying down*

Tadashi: *slight flail at the sound of the arm chair being flipped to bed form* I'm okay! *eyes are clearing, though he's still pale*

Sephy: *looks up from flipping the chair open* I'll get a pillow.

Mirden: *soothing hum*

Sephy: *on the cellphone as he heads toward the hall to get the pillow*

Leon: *moves to cover Tadashi with his jacket* You'll be alright.

Tadashi: *pushes jacket away from his right arm and shoulder* I'm okay.

someone: *is knocking on the apartment door. Which means it's probably Lucy Snow*

Leon: *goes to answer the door*

Lucy: *stocky little cat lady perks her ears at him* I told you to watch how fast you came in.

Leon: *ducks his head* I wasn't expecting anyone to be leaving...

Lucy: Should I hit you now, or let the twins do it when they get back from Bathilda's?

Leon: *much cringing. Knows the twins can really scold, and that Lucy can as well!*

Lucy: *slugs him in the side of the shoulder and then pushes past* Living room?

Leon: Yeah. *will wait to rub his shoulder 'til Lucy's out of sight*

Lucy: *in she goes, nodding to the women in the kitchen in passing* Hey, Mirden. Hey, Yuffie. I don't want to know what that pink thing is. *and on into the living room*

Mirden: *SNERK!* *will use her abilities to dry the cast thoroughly. Then she's picking Yuffie up and bringing the teenaged ninja to the living room*

Yuffie: *much scowl at the cast* How long do I have to wear this stupid thing?

Mirden: Six weeks, at least.

Yuffie: Whaaaaat? This sucks! *SULK*

Lucy: *talking to Tadashi and checking the bandages that are wrapped around his torso, shoulder, and arm* You're still slightly concussed. Getting your brains rattled didn't help.

Tadashi: *quietly* But I'm okay. Baymax would tell me if I wasn't.

Mirden: Lucy knows what she's talking about.

Tadashi: I know. But I'm not in danger right now. *sighs and closes his eyes a moment, then looks from Lucy to Mirden* I should get back to the sanctuary.

Sephy: *frown*

Mirden: *looks to Lucy*

Lucy: He should be resting.

Sephy: *quickly* You must come again, Tadashi. *looks to Leon and Yuffie to second his invitation*

Leon: *shrug!*

Yuffie: *moving to try and get up* I'll come with you to the Sanctuary.

Mirden: *hand on Yuffie's shoulder* You're going to sit and rest.

Tadashi: *frown fades from the corners of his eyes* Um. Sure. I... *looks at Yuffie and forgets about being uncertain and embarrassed as he sees the kitty ball nuzzle up to her* I can bring that back and make you something better.

Lucy: *soft, nearly soundless snort of amusement*

Yuffie: *stinkeye for Mirden, even as she reaches to gently moosh the ears of the kitty ball* She's fine.

kitty ball: *happy squeak*

Mirden: *amusement in her eyes, even as she shakes her head* If you show up at work tomorrow, I'm going to have Mabyn and Den bring you back here.

Yuffie: *SO much sulk*

Lucy: *perches her butt on the corner of the chair hide-a-bed and scowls* I've got a better idea. Send her to Hormah's till that cast comes off.

Mirden: *blink. Smile* There's an idea.

Yuffie: *still sulking at the idea of being made to rest*

Lucy: Hormah probably wouldn't mind having someone to help her finish that order of daggers she's doing for that charity auction. *absent mother hand on Tadashi's leg*

Mirden: *nods* Or to distract Mira.

Yuffie: No way. I don't do babies.

Mirden: Mira's not so much a baby as a force of nature.

Yuffie: *scowls and looks at her pet*

Tadashi: *quietly worried expression as he watches her*

Mirden: *looks to Tadashi* Have you seen how Mira can scold when she thinks someone's not listening to Hormah?

Tadashi: *attention shifts to the redhead* Yes, ma'am. More than once. It's nearly as scary as when she hears someone using rude language.

Mirden: *chuckles* And how many times has she snuggled against you for a nap?

Yuffie: I don't do nap piles either!

Tadashi: *glances toward her with concern for the shout* *back to Mirden* She sleeps near me at night.

Sephy: *thinks that's cute. Also thinks that he has to go to the kitchen and rescue his tea from Leon*

Mirden: *nods and looks to Yuffie* You probably wouldn't have to worry about nap piles, then.

Yuffie: *sullenly* I don't see why I can't just go to work.

Leon: *from the kitchen* You can't run deliveries if you can't run. Seph, get out of my face.

Sephy: Get out of my tea.

Mirden: *to Yuffie* And I know for a fact that you'd be bored out of your mind if you had to sit still all day, knitting.

Leon: *has Sephy's head under his arm* She doesn't knit.

Lucy: *stands* Let's get them both to Hormah's. I've got a one man tent Yuffie can use to make sure no babies mug her while she sleeps.

Yuffie: *horrid face*

Tadashi: *has to hold in laughter at that face*

Mirden: *so amused*

Lucy: Yuffie, get what you want to bring. Leon, you put his head through that wall and I'll kick your *butt*. Mirden, will you bring the kids to Hormah's? I'm going to get the tent.

Mirden: *nods*

Yuffie: *so much sulk, but nods*

Leon: *meeps and makes himself scarce*

Sephy: *grumbling on his face on the kitchen floor*

Lucy: *shakes her head and leaves to go get that tent*


About ten minutes later.


Mira: *mighty morphin' power click as she scoots around and gets the little one man pup tent set up in a corner on one of the beds in the room where Hormah likes to keep human patients*

Hormah: We sets 'er up 'ere, 'n she won't be arter runnin' off.

Lucy: *hands on hips from where she's standing on Hormah's shoulder* What about pee breaks?

Hormah: *snort* She kin' use 'er computer 's well 's the next *deedlebeep*.

Tadashi: *snuggled in his bed inside the tent that Hormah set up for him. Is sleeping deeply after a dose of painkiller*

Mirden: *arriving with Yuffie. Used the teen's PINpoint to bring her*

Yuffie: *has the kitty ball with her, and her favorite blanket and pillow*

Hormah: 'Ey t'ere, Mirden. *leans down to scan Yuffie's leg* 'N you.

Yuffie: *sulk*

Mirden: How is Tadashi?

Hormah: *picks Yuffie and her pet up and sets them over by the little pup tent as she sighs slightly* Some stoned. I was arter askin' 'im t' keep 'is aft to bed tomorrow.

Yuffie: *just realized that her tent's a lot smaller than Tadashi's*

Mirden: *nods, lips thin*

Yuffie: *quietly* Is he gonna be okay?

Hormah: *yellow eyes go back to the girl* Wit' time. *ignores Lucy's sudden disappearance*

Yuffie: *small nod as her attention goes back to the black tent*

Hormah: He's give permission t' tell 'is story. *glances toward the door and then turns back* But ye ben arter seein' t'at movie.

Yuffie: *shocked expression* No way. He's that Tadashi?

Hormah: Yup. *pokes the kitty ball and is squeaked at*

Mira: *chirps as she comes out of the tent to see what the squeak was*

Yuffie: *swatted at Hormah's hand for poking the kitty ball*

Mira: *much clickstorm when she spots the kitty ball!*

Hormah: Shhhhh, Mira. Don't go wakin' t'at Tadashi up.

Yuffie: *scowl forgotten as she looks back toward Tadashi's tent*

Hormah: *hands her a roll of smart fabric and an mp3 player with headphones* 'Ere. Watch movies.

Yuffie: *absently takes the things. Is going to sit and think about the past couple hours and wonder about the future for awhile before she realizes she's been left alone here. Then she'll lean on her new pet and watch 'Jurassic World' again as she thinks some more*

((written with random_xtras))